Santen Pharmaceutical (4536) R&D Day 2026 summary

Pipeline overview and program updates

• Global R&D aims to expand the Rx portfolio to contribute to sales during the mid-term plan and support sustainable growth from FY2030 onward.

• Target areas include glaucoma, myopia, pterygium, MGD, FECD, IRD, AMD, and DR/DME, with additional opportunities in ptosis and other eye diseases.

• Pipeline assets include STN10142 for pterygium; STN1014300 for DME; STN1014301 for wet AMD; and STN1010904/0905 for FECD/MGD.

• Upneeq, Setaneo, Ryjusea, Ryjunea, Catiolanze, and other products feature in regional launch plans spanning 2025–2029.

Clinical trial data and development milestones

• US Phase 2a STN10142 study: CBT-001 reduced pterygium vascularity vs vehicle at week 4 (p<0.001), with significant effects maintained through week 16 but not week 24.

• CBT-001 also significantly reduced pterygium length at weeks 4 and 8; the most commonly reported related adverse event was moderate conjunctival discoloration, resolving after treatment, with no related withdrawals.

• In an open-angle glaucoma/ocular hypertension study, sepetaprost produced numerically lower nighttime IOP than latanoprost at month 3; IOP lowering of 3–5 mmHg persisted 36 and 48 hours after dosing.

• Ryjusea Mini 0.025% was approved in Japan in 2024 as the first prescription eye drop for myopia there.

• All pipeline programs shown were described as on track; launch timing through 2029 reflects a best-case view as of end-February 2026, not a commitment.

R&D strategy and innovation priorities

• Priorities include earlier approvals, shorter development timelines, lifecycle management, targeted business development, and new formulations and modalities.

• Patient insights are intended to guide strategy and product lifecycles, with disease selection based on unmet need, organizational strengths, and commercial viability.

• AI and machine learning pilots target CMC optimization, trial design and monitoring, document creation, pharmacology validation, and broader R&D productivity; plans include electronic lab notebooks and AI skills development.

• Delivery research aims to improve ocular retention and reach posterior tissues through mucoadhesive nanocarriers, topical delivery, and non-invasive formulations.