Nxera Pharma
Nxera Pharma is a Japan-headquartered biopharmaceutical company that uses its proprietary NxWave™ GPCR structure-based drug discovery platform to develop therapeutics, commercializing PIVLAZ and QUVIVIQ in Japan/APAC and licensing assets globally to AbbVie, Eli Lilly, and other major pharma partners.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Nxera Pharma does
Nxera Pharma Co., Ltd. (formerly Sosei Group, rebranded April 2024) is a Japan-headquartered, technology-driven biopharmaceutical company that designs and develops therapeutics targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). The company operates from a Tokyo headquarters and a UK R&D hub in Cambridge, with additional offices in London, Basel and Seoul, and trades publicly on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE: 4565) and OTCMKTS (SOLTF). Its core technology is the NxWave™ GPCR structure-based drug discovery platform, which integrates NxStaR™ (proprietary GPCR structure determination via X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM, supported by patented miniG protein technology), NxHit™ (virtual, GPCR-focused library and DNA-encoded library screening), and NxDesign™ (computational-chemistry and machine-learning-enabled structure-based drug design). Nxera has solved more than 500 GPCR structures and uses the platform both to advance a 30+ program internal pipeline (spanning obesity, metabolic, endocrine, neurology and immuno-oncology indications) and to power multi-year discovery collaborations with AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Neurocrine Biosciences, Centessa, Cancer Research UK and the NewCo GPCR spin-out.
The company's revenue model is a hybrid of (i) direct product commercialization in Japan and select APAC markets (PIVLAZ/clazosentan for cerebral vasospasm prevention, generating JPY 13,511M in FY2025 with 25,470 patients treated, and QUVIVIQ/daridorexant for insomnia, which grew 223.9% to JPY 4,327M); (ii) licensing and milestone payments from out-licensed and partnered programs (FY2025 milestone receipts of US$35M; up to US$1.2B remaining from AbbVie, US$694M from Eli Lilly, and US$205M-plus from the Santhera Agamree deal); and (iii) tiered royalties on global sales of partnered assets. Distribution in Japan is executed directly and via channel partnerships (Shionogi for QUVIVIQ), while ex-APAC rights are typically out-licensed to major pharma for global commercialization. FY2025 total revenue was JPY 29.6 billion (~US$197.9M), and the company is targeting full-year profitability in FY2026 supported by a November 2025 strategic restructuring (15% workforce reduction, ~JPY 1B in annual savings) and a JPY 3.5B planned reduction in R&D spend.
Nxera Pharma firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Nxera Pharma
- Legal name
- Nxera Pharma Co., Ltd.
- Website
- https://nxera.life
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Nxera Pharma is a Japan-headquartered biopharmaceutical company that uses its proprietary NxWave™ GPCR structure-based drug discovery platform to develop therapeutics, commercializing PIVLAZ and QUVIVIQ in Japan/APAC and licensing assets globally to AbbVie, Eli Lilly, and other major pharma partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Nxera Pharma industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biopharmaceuticals (GPCR-targeted drug discovery and development)
- NAICS
- Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Neurology & Psychiatry (CNS) Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAC)
Keywords
Where Nxera Pharma is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices5 records
Markets served
Nxera Pharma business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Product Sales: Commercial revenues from marketed products including PIVLAZ® (clazosentan) for cerebral vasospasm prevention and QUVIVIQ™ (daridorexant) for insomnia. PIVLAZ grew 6.8% to JPY 13,511 million; QUVIVIQ surged 223.9% to JPY 4,327 million in FY2025
- Milestone Payments: One-time payments received upon achievement of specific R&D milestones under collaboration agreements. Received US$10 million from AbbVie (4th milestone), US$22.5 million from Neurocrine Biosciences Phase 2 trial, US$3 million from Centessa for ORX489 milestone
- Development and Commercial Milestones: Potential future milestone payments under partnerships: up to US$1.2 billion from AbbVie (neurological diseases), up to US$694 million from Eli Lilly (metabolic diseases), up to US$275 million from GPCR spin-out NewCo
- Tiered Royalties: Ongoing royalties on global sales from partnered programs including AbbVie neurological collaborations, Eli Lilly metabolic collaborations, and Centessa OX2R agonist pipeline
- Licensing Revenue: Upfront payments and ongoing licensing fees from out-licensing arrangements such as Santhera agreement (US$40 million upfront for Agamree/vamorolone in Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand)
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | PIVLAZ and QUVIVIQ products commercialized in Japan with Shionogi distribution partnership |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Nxera Pharma product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Nxera Pharma is a technology-driven biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, and commercializes medicines targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Its proprietary NxWave™ platform supports structure-based drug design, and the company markets two products in Japan — PIVLAZ (clazosentan) for cerebral vasospasm prevention and QUVIVIQ (daridorexant) for insomnia — while also generating revenue through licensing deals, milestone payments, and royalties from global pharmaceutical partners.
Product overview
Nxera Pharma is a next-generation, technology-driven biopharma company with a proprietary drug discovery platform for G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). The company's core technology is the NxWave™ platform, which encompasses NxStaR™ (structural biology), NxHit™ (compound screening), and NxDesign™ (structure-based drug design). The commercial portfolio includes two marketed products: PIVLAZ™ (clazosentan) for cerebral vasospasm prevention and QUVIVIQ™ (daridorexant) for insomnia. The pipeline spans multiple therapeutic areas including neurology (schizophrenia programs, muscarinic agonists), immunology (EP4 programs, GPR35 agonist), metabolic disorders (GLP-1, GIP, amylin programs), and oncology (EP4 antagonist partnered with Cancer Research UK). Nxera also licenses in products such as vamorolone for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The company operates across Japan, UK, Switzerland, and South Korea with over 500 GPCR structures solved.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- NxWave: Proprietary GPCR structure-based drug discovery platform
- NxStaR
- NxHit
- NxDesign
- PIVLAZ
- QUVIVIQ
Products and services
- PIVLAZ (clazosentan) Marketed endothelin receptor antagonist indicated for the prevention of cerebral vasospasm, vasospasm-related cerebral infarction, and cerebral ischemic symptoms after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Commercialized in Japan with FY2025 revenue of JPY 13,511 million (up 6.8% year-on-year); over 25,470 patients have been treated in Japan.
- QUVIVIQ (daridorexant) Dual orexin receptor antagonist for the treatment of insomnia disorder. Marketed in Japan via the Shionogi distribution partnership; FY2025 revenue surged 223.9% year-on-year to JPY 4,327 million. A Phase 3 trial in South Korea met all primary and secondary endpoints.
- Agamree (vamorolone) In-licensed novel corticosteroid alternative for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, licensed from Santhera Pharmaceuticals for development, manufacturing, and commercialization in Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand under a deal valued at up to US$205 million in upfront and milestone payments plus double-digit tiered royalties.
- NxWave™ Platform (Drug Discovery Service) Proprietary GPCR-focused structure-based drug discovery service offered to pharmaceutical partners through multi-target collaborations, option-to-license agreements, and out-licensing arrangements. The platform underpins partnerships with AbbVie (neurological diseases, up to US$1.2B in potential milestones), Eli Lilly (metabolic diseases, up to US$694M in potential milestones), Neurocrine Biosciences, Centessa Pharmaceuticals, and a GPCR spin-out NewCo (up to US$275M in potential milestones).
Quantifiable outcome
- 500+ GPCR structures solved and counting
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use Nxera Pharma
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Nxera Pharma technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature5 records
Nxera Pharma partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core and flagship.
- OpenFold AI Research ConsortiumstrategicNxera joined OpenFold, a non-profit AI research consortium developing open-source AI software tools for biology and drug discovery. Membership enables leveraging state-of-the-art open-source structural prediction models to create synergies with proprietary NxWave™ platform to accelerate GPCR target-focused drug discovery. Consortium includes Bristol Myers Squibb, Novo Nordisk, Bayer, Roche as pharmaceutical members, and Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, NVIDIA as supporting technology members.
- NewCo (GPCR Spin-out)strategicNxera closed licensing agreement and Series A financing with newly formed company for GPCR-targeted pre-clinical program discovered using NxWave technology platform. Granted exclusive worldwide license while retaining Japan and certain Asia-Pacific territories. Eligible to receive up to US$275 million in development and commercial milestones plus tiered royalties. Nxera holds significant minority equity stake; Chief Scientific Officer joined NewCo's Board of Directors.
- Neurocrine BiosciencescoreNeurocrine Biosciences dosing first patient in Phase 2 trial of NBI-1117570 (dual muscarinic M1/M4 receptor agonist) for adults with schizophrenia. Triggered US$22.5 million milestone payment to Nxera, recognized as Q1 FY2026 revenue. Phase 2 double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolling approximately 120 patients with primary endpoint of change from baseline in PANSS total score.
- Centessa PharmaceuticalscoreCentessa Pharmaceuticals entered into definitive agreement to be acquired by Eli Lilly. Nxera jointly discovered OX2R agonist pipeline (cleminorexton/ORX750, ORX142, ORX489) using Nxera's NxStaR technology. Nxera retains entitlement to milestone payments and royalties from all OX2R agonists unaffected by acquisition. Nxera holds equity interest in Centessa. Early milestone of US$3 million achieved for ORX489 in March 2026.
- Santhera PharmaceuticalscoreSanthera granted Nxera exclusive licensing agreement for development, manufacturing, and commercialization of Agamree (vamorolone) for Duchenne muscular dystrophy in Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. Nxera paying US$40 million upfront (US$30 million cash + US$10 million equity investment) with additional potential milestones up to US$165 million plus double-digit tiered royalties on net sales.
- ShionogicorePartnership with Shionogi for product distribution in Japan supporting QUVIVIQ (daridorexant) demand in Japan and across Asia-Pacific region. Manufacturing approval received for second API manufacturing site in Asia to reduce costs and improve profitability from 2027.
- Cancer Research UKcorePartnership for cancer immunotherapy drug HTL0039732 (EP4 antagonist). Phase 1 trial successfully completed demonstrating safety and tolerability with early efficacy. Phase 2 expansion trial underway in Japan and UK sponsored by Cancer Research UK. Partial responses observed in patients with resistant tumors including metastatic renal cell and colorectal cancers.
- AbbVieflagshipMulti-target discovery collaboration targeting neurological diseases. Nxera achieved fourth R&D milestone in June 2026 (US$10 million payment), bringing total received to US$40 million since 2022. Nxera remains eligible for up to US$1.2 billion in additional potential option, development and commercial milestones, plus tiered royalties on global sales. Collaboration uses NxWave™ GPCR structure-based drug discovery platform.
- Eli LillyflagshipMulti-target collaboration targeting diabetes and metabolic diseases. Second development milestone achieved in April 2026, validating Nxera's NxWave™ GPCR platform by identifying small molecule binders and solving receptor structures. Nxera eligible for up to US$694 million in development and commercial milestones plus tiered royalties on global sales. Lilly assumes responsibility for further development and commercialization.
Scale indicators16 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Nxera Pharma competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Schrödinger, Inc. US-listed (SDGR) computational/structure-based drug design platform company with a software-plus-collaborative-discovery model. Highly comparable to Nxera's NxWave™ platform in combining physics-based modeling, ML, and a wet-lab pipeline to generate partnered and proprietary therapeutic candidates.
Broad incumbents
- Otsuka Holdings: Diversified Japanese pharma group with significant CNS/psychiatry and specialty disease franchises including schizophrenia. Comparable in CNS therapeutic-area focus and in the Japanese listed-pharma landscape, providing a reference for partner-of-choice economics in Japanese CNS.
- Idorsia Pharmaceuticals: Swiss-listed specialty CNS biopharma whose operations were integrated into Nxera in 2026. Closely comparable in therapeutic focus (neurology, sleep, rare diseases) and brings daridorexant/QUVIVIQ history to the Nxera platform; a useful reference for what Nxera's CNS specialty pharma footprint could scale to.
- Karuna Therapeutics (acquired by Bristol Myers Squibb): CNS-focused biopharma (now part of BMS) that developed muscarinic M1/M4 agonism for schizophrenia. Direct comparability to Nxera's muscarinic program (NBI-1117570 with Neurocrine) and schizophrenia franchise including GPR52.
- Eisai Co., Ltd. Large Japanese pharmaceutical company with significant CNS, neurology, and rare-disease franchises. Comparable in scale and therapeutic-area overlap to Nxera's Japanese CNS commercial footprint and serves as a reference for what a profitable Japan-listed CNS biopharma looks like at scale.
- Cerevel Therapeutics (acquired by AbbVie): CNS-focused biopharma (now part of AbbVie) with development programs across schizophrenia, Parkinson's, and epilepsy. Comparable in CNS therapeutic focus and a relevant comparable for the value a partnered CNS asset can capture under AbbVie's umbrella — Nxera's own AbbVie partnership uses the same major pharma.
Regional players
- Shionogi & Co., Ltd. Major Japanese pharmaceutical company and Nxera's distribution partner for QUVIVIQ in Japan/APAC. A relevant Japanese peer given overlapping CNS/anti-infective portfolio and Shionogi's role in commercializing Nxera's CNS products in the home market.
Emerging players
- OMass Therapeutics: UK-based GPCR-focused drug discovery company using native mass spectrometry and structural biology. Direct comparability in GPCR-focused discovery and the named defendant in Nxera's miniG patent infringement action, making it a particularly informative peer on technology overlap and IP risk.
- Exscientia plc: AI-centric drug discovery company (EXAI) that has signed multi-target discovery deals with major pharma. Similar to Nxera in the partnered-collaborative revenue model and tech-driven pipeline generation, though Exscientia uses AI/automation rather than GPCR structural biology.
- Recursion Pharmaceuticals: AI-driven drug discovery platform (RXRX) combining high-throughput biology with ML. Comparable to Nxera in the technology-powered biopharma category, though Recursion's data-generation and target-discovery emphasis is distinct from Nxera's GPCR-structure specialization.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Nxera Pharma social profiles
Digital presenceNxera Pharma financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Nxera Pharma leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Nxera Pharma subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Nxera Pharma funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Nxera Pharma M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Nxera Pharma
What does Nxera Pharma do?
Nxera Pharma is a technology-driven biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, and commercializes medicines targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Its proprietary NxWave™ platform supports structure-based drug design, and the company markets two products in Japan — PIVLAZ (clazosentan) for cerebral vasospasm prevention and QUVIVIQ (daridorexant) for insomnia — while also generating revenue through licensing deals, milestone payments, and royalties from global pharmaceutical partners.
Is Nxera Pharma a public or private company?
Nxera Pharma is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Nxera Pharma founded?
Nxera Pharma was founded in 1990. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Nxera Pharma based?
Nxera Pharma is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Nxera Pharma make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are milestone Payments, development and Commercial Milestones, tiered Royalties and licensing Revenue.
Who are Nxera Pharma's main competitors?
Schrödinger, Inc. is listed as a direct peer. Broad incumbents are Otsuka Holdings, Idorsia Pharmaceuticals, Karuna Therapeutics (acquired by Bristol Myers Squibb), Eisai Co., Ltd. and Cerevel Therapeutics (acquired by AbbVie). Shionogi & Co., Ltd. is listed as a regional player. Emerging players are OMass Therapeutics, Exscientia plc and Recursion Pharmaceuticals.
Does Nxera Pharma have an API?
No public API is recorded for Nxera Pharma.
What industry is Nxera Pharma in?
Nxera Pharma's product category is Biopharmaceuticals (GPCR-targeted drug discovery and development). Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIAAAF, Neurology & Psychiatry (CNS) Pharmaceuticals, with a secondary code of HLAIACAC, Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals. Its NAICS code is 325412 and its SIC code is 2834.