March 24, 2025, Seoul/Abu Dhabi – AriBio Co., Ltd, a South Korean biopharmaceutical company and Arcera, an Abu Dhabi-based global life sciences company, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on AriBio’s investigational drug, AR1001 for Alzheimer’s disease. The agreement was officially signed during a formal ceremony in Abu Dhabi by Jai Jun Choung, CEO of AriBio and Isabel Afonso, CEO of Arcera, marking the beginning of a strategic partnership.
AriBio is advancing the development of innovative therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, with AR1001 currently in a global Phase 3 trial for Alzheimer’s disease. Arcera develops, manufactures, and commercializes a broad range of high-quality proven and innovative medicines across more than 90 countries. The company focuses on a broad range of therapeutic areas, with neuroscience being a top priority.
This MoU outlines collaboration across three key areas. First, the parties will pursue exclusive licensing of AR1001 for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases in mutually agreed upon regions. Second, they will explore opportunities to strengthen their partnership through strategic investments. Third, they plan to advance joint research and development based on shared interests, particularly in the field of neurodegenerative diseases.
Facilitated by the Korea Development Bank (KDB) and aligned with the Korean government’s policy to foster the biohealth industry, this collaboration represents a significant step forward to enhance the global competitiveness of domestic bio-companies. AriBio’s CEO Jai Jun Choung stated, “This MoU with Arcera accelerates AR1001’s global market entry. We have already agreed on the general licensing terms, and we are committed to swiftly completing the final agreement. By combining our technologies and resources, we aim to provide innovative treatment options for patients.”
Arcera’s CEO Isabel Afonso added, “Partnering with AriBio aligns perfectly with our growth strategy by focusing on innovative medicines, particularly in neuroscience. The AriBio outstanding pipeline and Arcera’s global infrastructure are clearly complementary. This collaboration places us at the forefront of the development of innovative new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions which could bring new hope to patients.”
Sunil Bhilotra, Chief Investment Officer of Arcera, said “By joining forces with AriBio, we are advancing our goal of providing transformative healthcare solutions. We continue to deploy capital and build our innovation capabilities through partnerships, in-licensing deals, and M&A.”
The agreement between AriBio and Arcera marks a new milestone in the development of treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions, drawing significant attention from the bio-industry.
ENDS
About AriBio Co., Ltd.
Founded in 2010, AriBio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in South Korea, with offices located in the United States to manage global clinical operations and regulatory affairs. The company focuses on the development of novel therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease. AriBio continues to expand its partnerships to accelerate the development and delivery of life-changing treatments to patients worldwide.
For more information about the partnership, please contact Fred Kim, Managing Director, AriBio USA .
About Arcera
Arcera is a global life sciences company, headquartered in Abu Dhabi. Arcera develops, manufactures, and commercializes a broad range of high-quality proven and innovative medicines in key international markets. Its portfolio exceeds 2,000 medicines covering wide therapeutic areas which reach patients in 90 countries in four continents, backed by manufacturing and packing sites across the world. Arcera was established by the sovereign wealth fund, ADQ to realize Abu Dhabi's ambition as a global leader in innovative and sustainable healthcare. To learn more about Arcera, visit www.arceralifesciences.com.
For more information about the collaboration, please contact Rafael Ferrer, SVP, Global Head of Corporate Development.