Osaka (Japan), January 10, 2024 – Maruho Co., Ltd. (“Maruho”; Head Office: Osaka; President and CEO, Atsushi Sugita) announces that it has entered into an exclusive license agreement (the “Agreement”) with AOBiome, LLC (“AOBiome”, Head Office: Cambridge, Massachusetts (USA); President and CEO, Todd Krueger) for B244 (development code) for the treatment of atopic dermatitis.

Under the license agreement, AOBiome grants Maruho an exclusive license to develop, manufacture, and commercialize B244 in Japan, and Maruho will pay AOBiome an upfront payment. Maruho may also make additional milestone payments depending on achievement of development and commercialization milestones. Maruho also has the rights to B244 for additional diseases other than atopic dermatitis.

Maruho plans to advance the development of B244 in Japan by participating in the global Phase 3 clinical studies that AOBiome is planning in Japan, the U.S. and Europe for the treatment of adult patients with atopic dermatitis.

B244 is a topical biologic formulation being developed by AOBiome, leveraging ammonia-oxidizing bacterium. B244 reduces the inflammatory and pruritic cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IL-31¹⁾. In a late stage Phase 2 clinical study conducted in the U.S. by AOBiome in adult patients with atopic dermatitis, B244 was found to be safe and effective for the treatment of appearance and itching related to atopic dermatis²⁾.

Maruho is committed to contributing to the smiles of patients by providing a new treatment option for atopic dermatitis.

NoteThe information contained in this news release in regard to pharmaceutical and developmental products is not intended for the purpose of promotion, advertising or medical advice.

About AOBiomeAOBiome, LLC. is a Cambridge, MA-based life sciences company. AOBiome is engaged in the development of topical therapeutics for inflammatory conditions using its live biotherapeutic B244. For more information, please visit https://www.aobiome.com/

About Ammonia Oxidizing BacteriaAmmonia Oxidizing Bacteria is a general term for bacteria that oxidize ammonia to nitric oxide and nitrite. The genus Nitrosomonas is a representative example.

About MaruhoMaruho Co., Ltd. has its head office in Osaka and leads Japan in research and development, manufacturing and commercialization of dermatological products. Founded in 1915, Maruho has 1,566 employees (as of the end of September 2023), and net sales were approximately 85.71 billion yen in its fiscal year ended September 30, 2023. With the mission “More smiles, brighter life for you.”, Maruho aims to help realize a society where everyone can live with a smile.
For more information, please visit www.maruho.co.jp/english/

References1）https://www.aobiome.com/aob-inflammatory-conditions-and-systemic-effects/
2）https://www.aobiome.com/press/press-releases/?y=2023