Scohia Pharma
Scohia Pharma is a Japanese specialty biotech, founded in 2017 as a Takeda carve-out, that discovers and out-licenses first-in-class small molecule and peptide drug candidates for endocrine, cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases to global pharmaceutical partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersFujisawa, Japan
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Scohia Pharma firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Scohia Pharma
- Legal name
- 株式会社スコヒアファーマ (SCOHIA PHARMA, Inc.)
- Website
- https://scohia.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Scohia Pharma is a Japanese specialty biotech, founded in 2017 as a Takeda carve-out, that discovers and out-licenses first-in-class small molecule and peptide drug candidates for endocrine, cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases to global pharmaceutical partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Scohia Pharma industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Drug Discovery & Pharmaceutical R&D
- NAICS
- Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (32541), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cardiometabolic Pharmaceuticals (Cardiovascular/Diabetes/Obesity) (HLAIAAAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Nephrology & Urology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAH), Nephrology & Urology Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAM), Regulatory Strategy & IND/NDA/BLA Submissions Support (HLAIALAH)
Keywords
Where Scohia Pharma is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fujisawa
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Scohia Pharma business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- License upfront payments: Scohia receives upfront payments upon signing licensing agreements with partners. For SCO-483, Neurocrine Biosciences paid a $20 million upfront.
- R&D milestone payments: The company earns milestone payments tied to achievement of specific development and regulatory milestones. For SCO-483, up to $550 million in potential milestones were agreed.
- Sales royalties: Scohia receives tiered royalties on worldwide net sales of partnered products, ranging from single-digit to low double-digit percentages depending on the agreement.
- Third-party equity financing: The company raises equity capital through third-party allotments to fund R&D operations. Most recent financing raised JPY 3.0 billion (May 2026).
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Scohia Pharma product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Scohia Pharma discovers and develops proprietary small molecule and peptide drug candidates targeting endocrine, cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases. The company retains discovery and preclinical capabilities in-house while out-licensing clinical development, manufacturing, and commercialization rights to global pharmaceutical partners through licensing agreements that generate upfront payments, development and sales milestones, and tiered royalties.
Product overview
Scohia Pharma is a specialty bioventure focused on drug discovery for lifestyle-related diseases in cardiovascular, metabolic, renal, and endocrine therapeutic areas. The company operates a diversified pipeline of drug candidates spanning multiple mechanisms of action: Core Pipeline includes SCO-240 (SSTR5 antagonist) and SCO-792 (enteropeptidase inhibitor) in clinical stages. Value-Added Pipeline comprises SCO-272 (renin inhibitor), SCO-267 (GPR40 agonist), SCO-006 (IP6K inhibitor), and SCO-116 (NRF2 activator). Partnered Pipeline includes SCO-094 (GLP-1R/GIPR dual agonist, licensed to Huadong Medicine), SCO-940/CT-G32 (quadruple agonist, partnered with Celltrion), SCO-483 (MC2R antagonist, licensed to Neurocrine Biosciences), and SCO-116 for ophthalmic/dermal use (licensed to Kuria Therapeutics). The company leverages small molecule and peptide engineering capabilities, focusing on areas with high unmet medical needs including rare diseases and obesity.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SCO-240 First-in-class orally available somatostatin receptor type 5 (SSTR5) antagonist that selectively stimulates growth hormone secretion in humans without affecting other pituitary hormones. In clinical development for growth hormone deficiency, with potential applications in infertility and alopecia.
- SCO-792 First-in-class orally available enteropeptidase inhibitor that blocks gut amino acid absorption. In development for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), phenylketonuria (PKU), maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), homocystinuria (HCU), and diabetic kidney disease.
- SCO-272 (Imarikiren) Long-acting direct renin inhibitor available as oral and injectable formulation. In development for diabetic kidney disease and hypertension.
- SCO-267 First-in-class GPR40 full agonist with new chemical structure binding to a site independent of fasiglifam. Stimulates islet and gut hormones including GLP-1, GIP, PYY, and glucagon. In development for diabetes, obesity, and NASH.
- SCO-006 First-in-class orally bioavailable IP6K (inositol hexakisphosphate kinase) inhibitor that decreases plasma phosphate levels by blocking cellular phosphate export. In development for hyperphosphatemia, chronic kidney disease, and ovarian clear cell carcinoma.
- SCO-116 Novel NRF2 activator that selectively inhibits the NRF2-KEAP1 protein-protein interaction. Available as oral or injectable form. In development for diabetic kidney disease, chronic kidney disease, lung diseases, and eye diseases.
- SCO-094 GLP-1R/GIPR dual agonist demonstrating superior efficacy to GLP-1 mono-agonists in preclinical studies. Licensed exclusively to Huadong Medicine for worldwide development and commercialization for obesity, diabetes, and NASH.
- SCO-940/CT-G32 First-in-class next-generation quadruple agonist for obesity and metabolic diseases developed in collaboration with Celltrion. Scohia leads drug discovery and preclinical development through IND submission; Celltrion is responsible for clinical development, regulatory interactions, manufacturing, and worldwide commercialization.
- SCO-483 (NBI-1852737) Selective melanocortin 2 receptor (MC2R) antagonist targeting overactive ACTH signaling. Licensed exclusively to Neurocrine Biosciences for worldwide development, manufacturing, and commercialization for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome, and rare metabolic diseases.
Quantifiable outcome
- SCO-240 achieved sustained IGF-1 elevation in Phase 1 MAD study across all dose groups (3-80mg) with favorable safety profile — first clinical demonstration of oral SSTR5 antagonist-induced GH stimulation in humans
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Scohia Pharma
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Scohia Pharma technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Scohia Pharma partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Neurocrine Biosciences (via Neurocrine Switzerland GmbH)coreExclusive worldwide license agreement for SCO-483 (selective MC2R antagonist, Neurocrine development code NBI-1852737) for rare metabolic diseases including congenital adrenal hyperplasia and ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome. Scohia received $20M upfront and is eligible for up to $550M in milestones plus tiered royalties (single to low double-digit % on worldwide net sales).
- Celltrion, Inc.coreStrategic collaboration initiated in 2024 for next-generation obesity treatments. Scohia leads drug discovery and preclinical development through IND submission (targeted H1 2027); Celltrion is responsible for clinical development, regulatory interactions, manufacturing, and worldwide commercialization of SCO-940 (CT-G32), a first-in-class quadruple agonist. Scohia eligible for multiple R&D milestones and single-digit % royalties on global net sales.
- Kuria TherapeuticscoreStrategic licensing agreement for SCO-116 (novel NRF2 activator) in ophthalmic and dermatological diseases for topical administration. Kuria Therapeutics acquired rights for eye diseases (Fuchs' Dystrophy, corneal endothelial damage, dry AMD) and skin diseases.
- Huadong Medicine (Hangzhou Zhongmei Huadong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.)coreWorldwide exclusive license for SCO-094 (GLP-1R/GIPR dual agonist) for the treatment of obesity, diabetes, and NASH. Collaboration was first established in Asia Pacific in 2021 and expanded globally in 2023. Huadong Medicine is conducting Phase 1 trials in the UK.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Scohia Pharma competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Novo Nordisk: Global incumbent leading diabetes/obesity therapy markets with Ozempic/Wegovy; defines the standard of care that Scohia's metabolic and renal pipeline must compete against or complement.
- Eli Lilly: Global pharmaceutical incumbent dominating the cardiometabolic/obesity space via Mounjaro/Zepbound; sets the competitive benchmark against which Scohia's GLP-1/GIP/quadruple agonists must differentiate.
- Takeda Pharmaceutical: Japan-headquartered global pharma and former parent company of Scohia (2017 carve-out). Provides historical IP foundation and connection to founders' blockbuster drug discovery track record.
- Astellas Pharma: Major Japanese pharmaceutical incumbent with metabolic, renal, and rare disease franchises; relevant as a possible future licensing partner or acquirer for Scohia's pipeline assets.
- Daiichi Sankyo: Japan-headquartered global pharmaceutical company with cardiovascular and metabolic portfolios and active out-licensing of large-molecule and small-molecule programs — comparable Japan-based discovery-to-commercial pathway.
Direct peers
- PeptiDream: Japanese peptide drug discovery company with proprietary peptide platform and broad pharma licensing partnerships. Comparable Japan-based, discovery-stage, peptide-focused out-licensing model; both work on low-and-medium molecular weight peptides.
- Crinetics Pharmaceuticals: US clinical-stage biotech focused on rare endocrine diseases (acromegaly, congenital hyperinsulinism) with a similar licensing/specialty-pharma profile and small specialized team — closely comparable in therapeutic area focus and discovery-stage business model.
- Keros Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing therapeutics for hematological and musculoskeletal disorders with similar venture-backed profile and multiple partnered programs. Comparable size and clinical-stage development posture.
- Madrigal Pharmaceuticals: Specialty biotech developing first-in-class therapies for NASH and metabolic liver disease with strategic focus on lifestyle-related metabolic indications — directly overlaps Scohia's SCO-267 NASH and broader metabolic disease thesis.
Others
- Neurocrine Biosciences: Strategic licensing partner for SCO-483 and a US specialty pharma with a CNS/endocrinology focus. Comparable positioning in rare endocrine diseases (congenital adrenal hyperplasia, Cushing's syndrome) where SCO-483 is being advanced.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Scohia Pharma social profiles
Digital presenceScohia Pharma financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Scohia Pharma leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Scohia Pharma funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors12 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Scohia Pharma M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Scohia Pharma
What does Scohia Pharma do?
Scohia Pharma discovers and develops proprietary small molecule and peptide drug candidates targeting endocrine, cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases. The company retains discovery and preclinical capabilities in-house while out-licensing clinical development, manufacturing, and commercialization rights to global pharmaceutical partners through licensing agreements that generate upfront payments, development and sales milestones, and tiered royalties.
Is Scohia Pharma a public or private company?
Scohia Pharma is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Scohia Pharma founded?
Scohia Pharma was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Scohia Pharma based?
Scohia Pharma is headquartered in Fujisawa, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Scohia Pharma make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. License upfront payments are the primary driver. The others are R&D milestone payments, sales royalties and third-party equity financing.
Who are Scohia Pharma's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, Takeda Pharmaceutical, Astellas Pharma and Daiichi Sankyo. Direct peers are PeptiDream, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Keros Therapeutics and Madrigal Pharmaceuticals. Neurocrine Biosciences is listed as an others.
Does Scohia Pharma have an API?
No public API is recorded for Scohia Pharma.
What industry is Scohia Pharma in?
Scohia Pharma's product category is Drug Discovery & Pharmaceutical R&D. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIAAAE, Cardiometabolic Pharmaceuticals (Cardiovascular/Diabetes/Obesity), with a secondary code of HLAIACAH, Nephrology & Urology Specialty Pharmaceuticals. Its NAICS code is 32541 and its SIC code is 2834.