Japan-based Asahi Kasei has entered a definitive agreement to acquire all issued shares of Germany-based biopharmaceutical company Aicuris Anti-infective Cures AG for approximately €780 million ($919 million), according to a Business Wire report.

The transaction expands Asahi Kasei's specialty pharmaceutical platform into severe infectious diseases and is expected to close during the first quarter of fiscal 2026 subject to customary conditions. Asahi Kasei expects the acquisition to contribute positively to operating income after amortisation of goodwill and intangible assets from fiscal 2028 onwards.

The acquisition advances Asahi Kasei's strategy to build a focused, sustainable specialty pharmaceutical platform serving immunocompromised and medically complex patient populations. Severe infectious diseases represent an area strategically adjacent to Asahi Kasei's established core transplant and nephrology subsidiaries where infection-related complications remain significant clinical concerns.

"This acquisition strengthens our position across interconnected therapeutic areas, including autoimmune diseases, transplantation, kidney disease, and severe infectious diseases," stated Ken Shinomiya, head of Asahi Kasei's Healthcare Sector. "Given the strategic alignment of this asset and the opportunity to expand within an area where we already have an established presence, we acted in a nimble and disciplined manner to advance our long-term growth objectives."

Aicuris adds three compounds to Asahi Kasei's treatment portfolio: Prevymis for prevention of CMV infection in transplant recipients, currently marketed under licence to Merck; pritelivir for treatment of HSV infection in immunocompromised patients with FDA approval targeted for 2026; and AIC468 for treatment of BK Virus infection in kidney transplant patients with commercialisation targeted for 2030.

The transaction supports Asahi Kasei's objective of achieving net sales of ¥300 billion (€1.9 billion) in pharmaceuticals with an operating margin of 15 per cent or higher by fiscal 2030.

Review the complete article on Asahi Kasei's pharmaceutical portfolio expansion and infectious disease treatment strategy.