4D Molecular Therapeutics (4DMT) has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Otsuka Pharmaceutical for the development and commercialization of its 4D-150 therapy in the Asia-Pacific region, according to the company. The collaboration will cover major markets including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, and New Zealand.
The company said that under the terms of the agreement, 4DMT will receive an upfront payment of $140 million from Otsuka, along with potential milestone payments and royalties based on future sales. Otsuka will handle development, regulatory, and commercial activities for 4D-150 in the licensed territories.
According to the company, 4D-150 is being developed as a potential one-time intravitreal gene therapy for patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME). The therapy uses the company’s proprietary R100 vector to deliver genetic material that may offer long-term suppression of VEGF, a key driver of these retinal diseases.
4DMT said that it retains full rights to 4D-150 in the United States and Europe and will continue to lead clinical development in these regions. The company claims that this partnership strengthens its global strategy and supports broader patient access to gene therapy treatments in ophthalmology.
