Japan's Sosei Group Corp., which has seen its stock triple over the past year on tie-ups with international companies, could enter into more partnerships in 2016 to develop new medicines and diversify beyond its main lung disease treatment.
There are drugs in the company's pipeline that are more advanced and "these I believe will be partnered sooner or later," Chief Executive Officer Shinichi Tamura said in a recent interview in Tokyo. "So that could be the first big news in 2016."
The Tokyo-based drugmaker already has partnerships and licensing agreements with companies including AstraZeneca PLC and Novartis AG to develop treatments for conditions from cancer to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Sosei acquired U.K. biotechnology company Heptares Therapeutics Ltd. last February for as much as $400 million to help diversify revenue.