What Ignis Therapeutics does

Ignis Therapeutics (翼思生物) is a Shanghai-based, privately-held CNS-focused biopharmaceutical company founded in December 2020 that operates a full value-chain model covering R&D, clinical development, regulatory registration, manufacturing, supply, and commercialization of innovative therapies for central nervous system diseases across Greater China (mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan). The company pursues a three-axis strategy of in-licensing globally validated CNS assets, co-developing with academic partners, and building a proprietary first-in-class pipeline, targeting ten disease areas including epilepsy, excessive daytime sleepiness, insomnia, Parkinson's disease, migraine, neuropathic pain, ADHD, depression, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease.

Its commercial portfolio is anchored by two NMPA-approved products (December 2025): Cenobamate (翼弗瑞®), a third-generation anti-epileptic with dual mechanism (selective INaP inhibition plus GABAA positive allosteric modulation) licensed from SK Biopharmaceuticals and showing 59.6% seizure-free rate in Chinese Phase III; and Solriamfetol (翼朗清®), a dopamine/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor for OSA-related excessive daytime sleepiness, also licensed from SK Biopharmaceuticals. A third asset, Monarch eTNS 2.0 (FDA-approved non-drug trigeminal nerve stimulation device for pediatric ADHD), is licensed from NeuroSigma. The proprietary pipeline is led by IGS01, an M4 muscarinic receptor positive allosteric modulator for Parkinson's levodopa-induced dyskinesia positioned as the first-in-class globally, with IND approval in December 2025 and Phase I dosing initiated January 2026. Additional early-stage assets (IGS03, IGS04, IGS05, IGS07) and CAS/ShanghaiTech-licensed antidepressant candidates extend the pipeline into depression, neuropathic pain, and other CNS indications.

The business model combines prescription pharmaceutical sales through Class 3A hospital neurology departments, retail pharmacy channels, and internet hospital platforms — with a strategic Sinopharm Holding (国药控股) distribution agreement providing nationwide supply. Revenue is generated through one-time licensing and royalty structures with global partners plus commercial product sales in Greater China. Manufacturing is supported by a wholly-owned Suzhou subsidiary operating a GMP-certified oral solid dose facility built to NMPA/FDA/EMA standards with approximately 1 billion tablet annual capacity, backed by a $160 million total investment and a Drug Production License granted in August 2025. The company employed 100+ staff as of 2021 and has been incubated and backed by 6 Dimensions Capital (通和毓承) alongside Goldman Sachs, Mubadala, HBM Healthcare Investments, Ruentex Group, KB Investment, and W.T.T. Investment.

Name

Ignis Therapeutics

Legal name

翼思生物医药（上海）有限公司

Website

https://ignistherapeutics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Ignis Therapeutics (翼思生物) is a Shanghai-based CNS biopharmaceutical company that in-licenses and develops innovative therapies for epilepsy, sleep disorders, Parkinson's, ADHD, and other brain diseases across Greater China, operating a full value-chain model with two NMPA-approved products and a proprietary first-in-class M4 PAM pipeline.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

CNS Pharmaceuticals

NAICS

Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254), Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845)

akta.pro primary industry

Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAC)

Keywords

• CNS drug development
• Neurological therapeutics
• Prescription pharmaceuticals
• Central nervous system
• Epilepsy treatment

Headquarters

HQ city

Shanghai

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical product sales: Revenue generated from the commercialization of licensed-in and self-developed CNS drugs in China. The company sells prescription pharmaceuticals through hospital and pharmacy channels. Products include Cenobamate (翼弗瑞®) for epilepsy and Solriamfetol (翼朗清®) for OSA-related excessive daytime sleepiness.
2. In-licensing and co-development: Company acquires exclusive rights to innovative CNS assets from global partners (SK Biopharmaceuticals, NeuroSigma) for the Greater China region, handles local clinical development, registration, manufacturing, and commercialization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ignis Therapeutics (翼思生物) develops, manufactures, and commercializes innovative central nervous system (CNS) pharmaceuticals and medical devices targeting epilepsy, excessive daytime sleepiness, Parkinson's disease, ADHD, depression, migraine, and other brain disorders. The company combines in-licensing of globally validated CNS assets (from SK Biopharmaceuticals and NeuroSigma) with proprietary self-developed drug candidates, and operates full value-chain capabilities spanning R&D, clinical development, registration, manufacturing, and commercialization. Commercial products include Cenobamate (翼弗瑞®) for focal epilepsy, Solriamfetol (翼朗清®) for OSA-related excessive daytime sleepiness, and the Monarch eTNS 2.0 medical device for pediatric ADHD.

Product overview

Ignis Therapeutics (翼思生物) operates as a CNS-focused biopharmaceutical company with a portfolio of licensed-in and self-developed products. The commercialized portfolio includes three approved drugs: 翼弗瑞® (西诺氨酯/Cenobamate), a third-generation anti-epileptic drug; 翼朗清® (盐酸索安非托/Solriamfetol), a wakefulness-promoting agent; and the Monarch eTNS 2.0 medical device for ADHD. Self-developed pipeline includes IGS01 (Phase I), IGS03, IGS05, IGS04, IGS07 for Parkinson's disease, depression, neuropathic pain, and other CNS conditions. The company combines in-licensing, proprietary R&D, and full value-chain capabilities from development through commercialization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 翼弗瑞® (Yifeirui®): Brand name for Cenobamate (西诺氨酯片), a third-generation anti-epileptic drug approved in China for treating focal seizures in adults.
• 翼朗清® (Yilangqing®)

Products and services

• Cenobamate (翼弗瑞® / Yifurui®) Tablets Third-generation anti-epileptic drug with dual mechanism (selective inhibition of persistent sodium current + positive allosteric modulation of GABAA receptors at non-benzodiazepine sites). Licensed from SK Biopharmaceuticals for the Greater China market. Achieved 59.6% seizure-free rate in China Phase III trial (C035 study) for focal epilepsy patients refractory to 1-3 anti-seizure medications. Previously approved by FDA in 2019 and EMA in 2021.
• Solriamfetol (翼朗清® / Yilangkqing®) Hydrochloride Tablets Wakefulness-promoting agent with dual mechanism (dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor / DNRI). Provides 1-hour onset and 9-hour duration. Licensed from SK Biopharmaceuticals for the Greater China market. Previously approved by FDA in 2019 and EMA in 2020. ESS score reduced to 6.9 (normal range) after 12 weeks of treatment.
• Monarch eTNS 2.0 System FDA-approved home medical device using external trigeminal nerve stimulation (eTNS) for treating ADHD in children aged 7-12 not on prescription ADHD medication. The first non-drug, non-stimulant therapy for pediatric ADHD. Licensed from NeuroSigma for the Greater China market (China mainland, Hong Kong, Macau).
• IGS01 Proprietary small molecule innovative drug - highly selective M4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor positive allosteric modulator (PAM) for treating levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) in Parkinson's disease. Globally first M4 PAM class drug entering registrational clinical development. Global rights owned by Ignis Therapeutics.

Quantifiable outcome

• 59.6% seizure-free rate in Chinese Phase III trial for Cenobamate 400mg in focal epilepsy patients refractory to 1-3 anti-seizure drugs
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• 国药控股 (Sinopharm Holding)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 February 2026Strategic cooperation agreement for product distribution and supply chain services. Sinopharm leverages its nationwide hospital and pharmacy distribution network to support Ignis's product launch and ensure stable nationwide supply for 翼弗瑞® and other commercialized products.
• 中国抗癫痫协会 (CAAE — Chinese Association Against Epilepsy)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Strategic cooperation agreement signed October 2025 at the 11th CAAE International Epilepsy Forum. Cooperation covers academic exchange, scientific research, epilepsy center development, diagnostic standardization, and patient care programs to improve seizure-free outcomes.
• 中国科学院分子细胞科学卓越创新中心 (CAS Molecular Cell Science Center)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023Tripartite technology transfer agreement with CAS Molecular Cell Science Center and ShanghaiTech University for novel antidepressant drug R&D. CAS and ShanghaiTech licensed Ignis patents for follow-on drug development, manufacturing and commercialization. Milestone payments total 120 million RMB.
• 上海科技大学 (ShanghaiTech University)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023Tripartite technology transfer agreement with ShanghaiTech University and CAS for novel antidepressant drug R&D. ShanghaiTech University and CAS licensed Ignis patents for follow-on drug development, manufacturing and commercialization.
• NeuroSigmacoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2022Ignis acquired exclusive license for the Monarch eTNS System in Greater China (China mainland, Hong Kong, Macau) for ADHD treatment. The system is FDA-approved as the first non-drug therapy for pediatric ADHD. Deal includes potential other indications and local manufacturing rights. NeuroSigma receives upfront payment, up to $10M in milestone payments, and royalties.
• SK Biopharmaceuticals (SK生物医药)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2021Ignis and SK Biopharmaceuticals signed long-term strategic cooperation for 6 innovative CNS assets including Cenobamate (epilepsy) and Solriamfetol (wakefulness) for Greater China. Ignis holds exclusive rights for development, registration, local manufacturing and commercialization. SK receives upfront, milestones and royalties. SK is a leading Korean CNS pharma that developed Korea's first FDA-approved CNS drug.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• UCB: Belgian global biopharma with a large CNS franchise (Briviact, Vimpat, Keppra for epilepsy; Rystiggo for myasthenia gravis). Larger incumbent with overlapping CNS therapeutic areas but a broader portfolio including immunology and rare diseases.
• Biogen: US-based neuroscience-focused biotech with franchises in multiple sclerosis, SMA (Spinraza), and Alzheimer's (Leqembi). Larger incumbent with CNS specialty positioning but more concentrated in neurodegeneration rather than Ignis's broader epilepsy/sleep/Parkinson's ADHD focus.
• Lundbeck: Danish global pharma entirely focused on psychiatry and neurology (Brintellix/Trintellix, Abilify Maintena, Rexulti). Direct therapeutic-area overlap with Ignis on CNS specialty, though Lundbeck operates at global incumbent scale across multiple CNS indications.

Direct peers

• SK Biopharmaceuticals: South Korean CNS specialty pharma and Ignis's flagship licensor for 6 CNS assets including Cenobamate and Solriamfetol. Direct comparable: shares the same molecule portfolio (Cenobamate, Solriamfetol) for global markets, runs a CNS-focused business model, and combines proprietary R&D with out-licensing economics.
• Supernus Pharmaceuticals: US-based CNS specialty pharma focused on epilepsy (Oxtellar XR, Trokendi XR) and ADHD (Qelbree). Closely comparable therapeutic mix and specialty-pharma commercialization model, with pipeline expansion via both proprietary R&D and in-licensing.
• Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Ireland/US-based CNS specialty pharma with leading franchises in narcolepsy/EDS (Xyrem, Sunosi which is the same molecule as Ignis's Solriamfetol) and epilepsy. Direct therapeutic-area overlap with Ignis on wakefulness promotion and seizure disorders, with a similarly narrow specialty pharma model.

Regional players

• Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals: China's largest domestic innovative pharma, with growing CNS exposure alongside oncology and other therapeutic areas. Comparable as a major Chinese specialty pharma player expanding into innovative CNS, though with a much broader portfolio.
• Luye Pharma Group: Hong Kong/China-listed innovative pharma with established CNS franchise including Seroquel generic, Rivastigmine patch, and ongoing CNS pipeline development. Comparable as a Chinese CNS-focused pharma with both generic and innovative drug exposure.
• CSPC Pharmaceutical Group: Major Hong Kong-listed Chinese pharma with a substantial CNS franchise (Oulaining for stroke, butylphthalide) and ongoing pipeline expansion into innovative neurology and psychiatry. Comparable scale and Chinese-market specialty CNS focus.

Emerging players

• Sage Therapeutics: Pure-play CNS biotech (Zulresso, Zurzuvae for postpartum depression and MDD). Comparable as a CNS-focused emerging biopharma with a small specialty portfolio, although Sage focuses on psychiatry while Ignis has broader neurology/psychiatry coverage.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors7 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ignis Therapeutics