Viatris Completes Acquisition of Aculys Pharma, Gaining Exclusive Rights to Pitolisant and Spydia® in Japan and Select Asia-Pacific Markets
Thursday, October 16, 2025
Viatris Inc. (Nasdaq: VTRS), a global healthcare company, has completed the acquisition of Aculys Pharma, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on treatments for neurological conditions. The acquisition grants Viatris exclusive development and commercialisation rights in Japan for pitolisant and Spydia®, expanding its portfolio of innovative central nervous system (CNS) therapies.
Pitolisant, a selective/inverse agonist of the histamine H3 receptor, has shown positive results in recent Phase 3 trials in Japanese patients. Viatris plans to file for marketing approval with Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) by the end of 2025 for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness or cataplexy in adults with narcolepsy, and for excessive daytime sleepiness associated with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).
The acquisition also provides exclusive rights in Japan and certain other Asia-Pacific markets for Spydia Nasal Spray, which was approved in Japan in June 2025 for the treatment of status epilepticus.
This move strengthens Viatris’ presence in Japan, complementing its existing portfolio that includes Effexor for generalized anxiety disorder, selatogrel in acute myocardial infarction, Nefecon for IgA nephropathy, cenerimod for systemic lupus erythematosus, and Tyrvaya for dry eye disease, with pivotal Phase 3 trials ongoing or planned.
Source: prnewswire.com
