Rakuten Medical Encourages Academic-to-Clinical Translation in Photoimmunotherapy

Rakuten Medical, Inc., a global biotechnology company developing and commercializing Alluminox® platform-based photoimmunotherapy, announced that it will provide IRDye® 700DX N-hydroxy succinimide (NHS) ester (IR700 dye), at an administrative fee-only acquisition cost for academic research with increased flexibility for publication, intellectual property (IP) and commercialization opportunities.

IR700 dye is a pivotal component of Rakuten Medical's proprietary Alluminox platform, which is protected by IP covering manufacturing technologies, clinical applications and I700 dye-conjugate compositions. Rakuten Medical manufactures and supplies IR700 dye worldwide, ensuring reliable quality and consistent availability.

The quality and safety of Rakuten Medical's IR700 dye to date have been demonstrated to be acceptable within risk–benefit considerations through its use in multiple pre-clinical and clinical programs involving the company's investigational and commercial drug assets. Among these is Akalux™ IV Infusion 250 mg, which is approved in Japan for unresectable locally advanced or recurrent head and neck cancer. Photoimmunotherapy with Akalux has been provided more than 1,200 times under Japan's national health insurance coverage (as of January 19, 2026).

Through this initiative, Rakuten Medical will:

• Provide IR700 dye for academic research under an administrative fee-only model (Material Transfer Agreement required)
• Enable academic researchers to freely publish their findings with prior notification
• Offer favorable conditions for IP rights arising from research outcomes
• Expand commercialization opportunities for new innovations

Mickey Mikitani, Chief Executive Officer of Rakuten Medical, commented, "IR700 dye is a high-potential asset with applications beyond photoimmunotherapy, spanning a wide range of therapeutic modalities. By expanding academic access under more flexible terms for research, publication and innovation, we aim to accelerate the development of new treatment technologies and contribute meaningfully to advances in global healthcare."