Anti-NMDAR encephalitis is a severe autoimmune neurologic disease caused by anti-NMDAR autoantibodies. These autoantibodies induce crosslinking of NMDARs with their dual-arms and internalization leading to hypo-NMDAR status, which in turn induces both mental and motor abnormalities. Currently there are no approved treatments for anti-NMDAR encephalitis and only off-label therapies are available as non-specific immunological modulators with slow onset, insufficient efficacy, and infectious complication risks. Arialys’ lead asset, ART5803, is a novel anti-NMDAR single-arm Ab that blocks binding, and prevents internalization, of NMDAR autoantibodies. Arialys believes that ART5803 could be a first-in-class treatment option for anti-NMDAR encephalitis that can address the unmet medical needs of patients suffering from the disease.

I joined Arialys from Astellas Pharma, Inc. (“Astellas”), where I served as head of Neuroscience Research Unit and Virtual Venture Unit Psychiatry. Astellas was seeking a partner to license out global rights of the asset for internal strategic reasons. We identified significant potential in partnering with Catalys Pacific, along with Avalon BioVentures and MPM Capital, to explore further scientific breakthroughs by creating a bespoke NewCo for developing new precision medicines for autoimmune neuropsychiatric diseases. In that company creation process, Catalys Pacific’s on-the-ground team brought together world-class leadership with extensive knowledge and expertise in pharma, biotech and international syndicate relationships. We are confident that this transpacific partnership will enable us to pursue further scientific breakthroughs and ultimately maximize the value of the asset.

Catalys Pacific, Avalon Ventures and MPM Capital founded Arialys to explore the etiology of autoimmunity for neurologic and neuropsychiatric disease. Many of the world’s leading experts in the integration of immunology and neurology were brought together to help form Arialys. It’s clear there are numerous Japanese pharmaceutical companies out there struggling to develop innovative assets with only their own resources to draw upon, and we saw how carving out our asset with Catalys Pacific to create Arialys would represent a productive and value-adding partnership. We therefore believe Arialys will be a good case study for demonstrating how Japanese pharma can advance new science and technology for patients via partnership with venture firms like Catalys Pacific and new biotech companies like Arialys.