AnnJi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (AnnJi, TWSE: 7754), a Taiwan-based new drug development company, proudly announced that its innovative small molecule drug-AJ302, under development for the treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN), is honored with the 2024 National Innovation Award – Pharmaceutical and Precision Medicine Category. This prestigious recognition not only affirms AnnJi’s robust R&D capabilities but also highlights the company’s contribution to elevating Taiwan’s biopharmaceutical innovation on the global stage.

The National Innovation Award, organized by the Institute for Biotechnology and Medicine Industry (IBMI), is regarded as Taiwan’s highest honor in the biomedical and healthcare innovation fields. The award celebrates outstanding enterprises and research institutions that demonstrate innovation, technological breakthroughs, and strong market potential. The evaluation process is rigorous, with an expert panel of leaders from industry, government, academia, and research sectors. Selection criteria include innovation, technological barrier, market potential, and industrial impact. Winning this award symbolizes not only technological excellence but also leadership in shaping the future of the biotechnology industry.

In recent years, AnnJi has achieved remarkable milestones, earning multiple national-level recognitions. Its novel small molecule drug-AJ201, developed for the treatment of Kennedy’s disease (Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy, SBMA), previously received the National Innovation Award and the National Innovation Award–Excelsior Award for two consecutive years. Now, with AJ302 again being honored with the National Innovation Award – Pharmaceutical and Precision Medicine Category, AnnJi continues to demonstrate exceptional purposeful drug development strategy and scientific strength in therapeutic innovation.

AJ201, AnnJi’s first-in-class Nrf2 activator, has been out-licensed to Avenue Therapeutics, Inc., a U.S.-listed biopharmaceutical company, for development and commercialization in the U.S., Canada, the European Union, Great Britain, and Israel. The licensing agreement is valued at up to USD 250 million, with additional sales-based royalties. According to Avenue’s Investor Presentation published on its official website under Company Information on December 2, the Phase 1b/2a clinical study of AJ201 for SBMA is currently ongoing at six leading medical centers in the United States. The topline clinical results are expected to be announced in early 2025.

This study aims to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and exploratory efficacy endpoints of AJ201 in SBMA patients, serving as the basis for the design of subsequent clinical trials. The recognition of AJ302 with the National Innovation Award serves as a strong encouragement for AnnJi’s research and development team and injects further confidence into the company’s future development and international partnership discussions. AnnJi remains committed to its innovation-driven mission—continuing to develop first-in-class and best-in-class small molecule drugs to bring new therapeutic options to patients worldwide and to contribute to the advancement of Taiwan’s biotechnology industry.