Syros Pharma pulls out of deal with RaQualia

14 April 2025

Japan’s RaQualia Pharma (TYO: 4579) has announced the termination of the license agreement regarding a retinoic acid receptor agonist (tamibarotene/TM-411/SY-1425, between the USA’s Syros Pharmaceuticals and TMRC Co, a consolidated subsidiary of RaQualia. Nevertheless, RaQualia’s shares rose as much as 4% following the announcement on Friday.

Tamibarotene is a selective agonist of the alpha subtype of retinoic acid receptors (RARA). In September 2015, TMRC entered into a license agreement with Syros, granting Syros the rights to develop and commercialize tamibarotene as a cancer therapeutic in North America and Europe. Syros had been conducting a Phase III clinical trial, SELECT-MDS-1 trial, targeting high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome patients with RARA gene overexpression.

Decision follows failed trial

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