South Korea’s HK inno.N Corp. has acquired a 10.61% stake in Japanese drug developer RaQualia Pharma Inc., becoming its largest shareholder through a third-party allotment capital increase.
The investment deepens a partnership dating back to 2010, when RaQualia transferred technology for K-CAB, a gastroesophageal reflux disease treatment, to the Korean pharmaceutical company.
The deal gives HK inno.N greater access to Japan’s pharmaceutical market, one of the world’s largest and most stringently regulated. It also taps into RaQualia’s portfolio of 18 drug pipelines spanning gastrointestinal treatments, pain management, cancer antibodies, and gene therapies.
RaQualia, founded in 2008 by former Pfizer Japan researchers, has established itself as an innovative drug development firm with diverse research capabilities that complement HK inno.N’s expansion strategy.
CEO Kwak Dal-won indicated the acquisition would strengthen joint research and development initiatives between the companies, highlighting plans to introduce K-CAB to Japanese consumers.
The strategic investment aligns with HK inno.N’s broader ambitions to enhance its presence in international markets while leveraging RaQualia’s expertise to bolster its research and development pipeline.
Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
