Pipeline

Tegoprazan is a novel Potassium-Competitive Acid Blocker (P-CAB), a new type of gastric acid secretion inhibitor. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have been used from long ago for gastroesophageal reflux disease, however, P-CAB as a new generation of drugs suppresses gastric acid secretion more rapidly and more persistently than PPIs.

RQ-00466479 is a novel antagonist of the P2X7 receptor, one of the purine receptors, which was discovered through a research collaboration between RaQualia Pharma and Asahi Kasei Pharma. P2X7 receptor is a type of ion channel that is abundantly expressed in glial cells in the central nervous system, and is known to play important roles in chronic pain. It is expected to become a new treatment option for chronic pain and other relevant conditions.

RQ-00433412 is a novel ghrelin receptor agonist discovered by RaQualia. Ghrelin receptors regulate feeding and growth hormone secretion. Ghrelin receptor agonists are known to improve cachexia, weight loss, and anorexia in cancer patients. In addition to these effects, RQ-00433412 is expected to be an innovative new therapeutic option that improves quality of life by promoting spontaneous bowel movement without causing diarrhea in people with spinal cord injury based on its gastrointestinal prokinetic effect.

RQ-00350215 is a novel sodium channel blocker discovered by RaQualia. Sodium channels, together with other ion channels such as potassium channels, control the generation and transmission of nerve action potentials and thus are deeply involved in neurotransmission. By selectively blocking the function of specific sodium channels involved in the transmission of pain signals, RQ-00350215 is expected to be an epoch-making new drug for chronic pain for which existing drugs do not provide sufficient analgesic effect.

RQ-00434739 is a novel Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 8 (TRPM8) blocker discovered by RaQualia. TRPM8 is a temperature-sensitive ion channel that is activated by cold stimuli below 28 ℃ or menthol (a component of mint), and has been suggested to play roles in various pathological conditions including pain. RQ-00434739 has shown efficacy in animal models of pain through a new mechanism of action different from those of existing drugs, and is expected to be a breakthrough new drug for chronic pain for which treatment satisfaction is still low.