Chugai licenses anti‑dengue antibody AID351 to GSK

Deal terms

Chugai granted GSK an exclusive, worldwide license to develop, manufacture and commercialize AID351. GSK will lead clinical development, including Phase I, and take responsibility for manufacturing. Chugai is eligible for royalties on future product sales and a percentage of any sublicensing income.

Background and development

The agreement signed August 17, 2026 follows a collaboration agreement between the companies dated January 30, 2025. The project advanced through Chugai Pharmabody Research in Singapore and A*STAR Singapore Immunology Network (A*STAR SIgN), using an antibody discovered by A*STAR SIgN and the National University of Singapore; Chugai carried out optimization using its proprietary antibody engineering technologies. The project received grant funding twice from the Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund.

Strategic rationale

GSK frames the deal as part of its effort to address high‑burden infectious diseases in lower‑income countries, aiming to change the trajectory of diseases with substantial unmet need. Chugai highlights combining GSK’s global development capabilities with its antibody engineering to accelerate development and patient access.

Disease and the asset

Dengue is a mosquito‑transmitted disease with four serotypes and, according to WHO, an estimated 100–400 million infections annually; there is currently no effective drug treatment. AID351 is a human antibody reported to neutralize all four dengue serotypes and was developed through discovery by A*STAR SIgN and NUS followed by optimization at Chugai.