IGNIS Therapeutics

About IGNIS Therapeutics

IGNIS Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company established in late 2020, with headquarters in Shanghai, China, dedicated to developing and commercializing therapies for central nervous system (CNS) disorders. The company was co-founded by SK Biopharmaceuticals and 6 Dimensions Capital and launched with a record-setting $180 million Series A financing round in 2021, the largest for a Chinese biopharma company that year. This funding was led by 6 Dimensions Capital with participation from investors like Mubadala Investment Company, Goldman Sachs, and HBM Healthcare Investments. The company's CEO is Dr. Eileen Long, former General Manager of Sanofi China's CNS Division.

IGNIS operates on a business model that integrates in-licensed products, in-house research and development, and mature products. Its primary strategic partnership is with South Korea's SK Biopharmaceuticals, from which it has licensed exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize six CNS drug candidates in Greater China. This portfolio includes FDA-approved drugs such as cenobamate for epilepsy and solriamfetol for excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea. As part of the licensing agreement, IGNIS made a $20 million upfront payment and will provide potential milestone payments and royalties to SK Biopharmaceuticals. The company also has a strategic collaboration with NeuroSigma to advance the Monarch eTNS System, a non-drug treatment for pediatric ADHD, in China.

The company's pipeline targets a range of CNS conditions including epilepsy, Parkinson's Disease, schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and neuropathic pain. By November 2024, IGNIS had submitted New Drug Applications (NDA) for both cenobamate and solriamfetol in mainland China. IGNIS is building out its infrastructure, which includes R&D and GMP manufacturing facilities in Shanghai and Suzhou, to cover the entire value chain from research and clinical development to commercialization.