Rakuten Medical Inc., a  global biotechnology company developing and commercializing precision, cell targeting therapies based on its Alluminox platform, entered into an exclusive licensing and commercialization agreement with Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC, a multinational pharmaceutical company, for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Hikma has an exclusive license to commercialize products in Rakuten’s medical’s pipeline using its photoimmunotherapy technology platform, Alluminox, in all its MENA markets.

Mickey Mikitani, Co-CEO of Rakuten Medical, said, “We are already developing Alluminox treatment in several countries and regions, including the United States, Japan, Taiwan, and India, and this agreement further accelerates our global expansion. With Hikma’s strong regional footprint and medical expertise, we expect the Allumino platform to make significant progress in MENA.”

Mazen Darwazah, Hikma’s executive vice chairman and president of MENA, said, “This agreement allows us to work with an excellent global partner to strengthen our growing portfolio in oncology and biotechnology. Most importantly, this allows us to bring a potentially transformative technology to cancer patients in MENA, helping to put better health within reach, every day.”