Santen Strengthens Ophthalmology Portfolio Through Landmark Collaboration with AbbVie

　　【Pharmaceutical Network Enterprise NewsRecently, Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Santen Pharmaceutical (China) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Santen China"), has reached an exclusive cooperation agreement with AbbVie for the distribution and promotion of five glaucoma eye drops in mainland China.
 

This cooperation agreement lasts for 6 years and covers AbbVie's glaucoma eye drop products that have been approved for marketing in China, including Alphagan® Afagen®, Alphagan P® Afashu®, Lumigan® Lumeigen®, Ganfort® Kefate®, and Combigan® Kobeigen®.
 

It is reported that Santen's glaucoma product line was previously mainly focused on prostaglandin drugs (PG class). Meanwhile, AbbVie's products cover medications with different mechanisms of action, including α2 receptor agonists (Alphagan®/Alphasson®) and fixed-dose combination drugs (Cosopt®/Combigan®). Through this collaboration, AbbVie’s five products will complement the mechanisms of Santen’s existing PG product line, further enriching Santen Pharmaceutical (China)’s treatment options for different stages of glaucoma.
 

At the same time, Santen Pharmaceutical (China) will rely on this commercial collaboration with AbbVie to fully unleash the market growth potential of its glaucoma products, develop multi-channel business growth, and further focus on the clinical "pain points" in glaucoma treatment while helping to improve the level of glaucoma treatment in China.
 

Notably, through this collaboration, Santen Pharmaceutical (China) will also accelerate the construction of its full-life-cycle management ecosystem for ophthalmology, creating a one-stop eye health solution ranging from myopia prevention and control in adolescents to glaucoma and fundus disease management in the elderly.
 

According to reports, Santen has been actively engaging in frequent BD collaborations in recent years to quickly address gaps in its own pipeline and build deep barriers. On August 19, 2025, RemeGen announced that it had signed a licensing agreement with Santen Pharmaceutical (China) for the RC28-E injection, which was independently developed by RemeGen. Under the agreement, RemeGen granted Santen Pharmaceutical (China) an exclusive license for the development, production, and commercialization of the RC28-E injection in Greater China as well as in South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore.
 

On November 13, 2024, Santen Pharmaceutical and Arctic Vision announced that the latter had granted the former the exclusive commercialization rights of ARVN001 (triamcinolone acetonide suprachoroidal injectable suspension) in mainland China. According to the agreement, Arctic Vision will receive an upfront payment and milestone payments totaling up to 85 million US dollars.
 

ARVN001 is a triamcinolone acetonide suprachoroidal injectable suspension specifically designed for suprachoroidal administration. It enables rapid and thorough diffusion of the drug to the posterior segment of the eye with prolonged efficacy while significantly reducing adverse effects on normal intraocular tissues. This drug has been FDA-approved in the United States for the treatment of uveitic macular edema (UME) and is currently under development for other retinal diseases such as diabetic macular edema (DME).
 

Through precise BD transactions, Santen is efficiently connecting its layout in the fields of dry eye, glaucoma, myopia, and fundus diseases. An ecological network covering the entire life cycle, from the ocular surface to the fundus, and from drugs to devices is gradually taking shape. Notably, in the "2025-2029 Mid-Term Management Plan" released by Santen in 2025, the company clearly proposed its 2035 vision and outlined six core initiatives. These include establishing a leading position in overseas markets such as China, strengthening the product portfolio and R&D pipeline, and deepening digital capabilities and organizational strength.
 

In response, the industry expects that this plan will provide a solid strategic guarantee for building a full ecosystem. It is also expected to contribute more new "Santen solutions" to the cause of eye health in China.
 

　　Disclaimer: Under no circumstances shall the information or opinions expressed in this article constitute investment advice to any person.