{"id":7934,"date":"2026-01-20T16:00:20","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T00:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rakuten-med.com\/us\/?post_type=press_releases&#038;p=7934"},"modified":"2026-01-20T16:04:48","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T00:04:48","slug":"rakuten-medical-expands-academic-access-to-ir700-dye-through-fee-only-provision-greater-publication-freedom-and-expanded-ip-commercialization-opportunities","status":"publish","type":"press_releases","link":"https:\/\/rakuten-med.com\/us\/news\/press-releases\/2026\/01\/20\/7934\/","title":{"rendered":"Rakuten Medical Expands Academic Access to IR700 Dye Through Fee-Only Provision, Greater Publication Freedom and Expanded IP &amp; Commercialization Opportunities"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pl-7934\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-7934-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\"  style=\"margin-bottom: 0px\" ><div id=\"pgc-7934-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-7934-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child\" data-index=\"0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<ul>\n<li><em><strong>Rakuten Medical\u2019s light-activatable IR700 dye is a clinically validated component used in the approved medicine Akalux\u2122<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em><strong>With hydrophilicity and low toxicity<sup>1<\/sup>, IR700 dye is adaptable to diverse therapeutic modalities<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em><strong>Broader academic access to IR700 dye will accelerate open innovation and drive new medical discoveries<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-7934-0-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-last-child\" data-index=\"1\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p><b>San Diego, California \u2013 January 20, 2026 \u2013 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rakuten Medical, Inc., a global biotechnology company developing and commercializing Alluminox\u00ae platform-based photoimmunotherapy, today announced that it will provide IRDye\u00ae 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">IR700 dye is a pivotal component of Rakuten Medical\u2019s proprietary Alluminox platform, which is protected by IP covering manufacturing technologies, clinical applications and IR700 dye-conjugate compositions. Rakuten Medical manufactures and supplies IR700 dye worldwide, ensuring reliable quality and consistent availability.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The quality and safety of Rakuten Medical\u2019s IR700 dye to date have been demonstrated to be acceptable within risk\u2013benefit considerations through its use in multiple pre-clinical and clinical programs involving the company\u2019s investigational and commercial drug assets. Among these is Akalux\u2122 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\u2019s national health insurance coverage (as of January 19, 2026).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Disclaimer: Rakuten Medical\u2019s Alluminox platform-based photoimmunotherapy is investigational outside Japan.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Through this initiative, Rakuten Medical will:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Provide IR700 dye for academic research under an administrative<\/b> <b>fee-only model<\/b> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(Material Transfer Agreement required)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Enable academic researchers to freely publish their findings<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> with prior notification<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Offer favorable conditions for IP rights arising from research outcomes<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Expand commercialization opportunities for new innovations<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mickey Mikitani, Chief Executive Officer of Rakuten Medical, commented, \u201cIR700 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.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For inquiries regarding IR700 provision for academic research purposes, please visit:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/rakuten-med.com\/us\/contact\/bd\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">https:\/\/rakuten-med.com\/us\/contact\/bd\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-7934-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\"  style=\"margin-bottom: 0px\" ><div id=\"pgc-7934-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-7934-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"2\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-7934-1-0-0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p><b>About IRDye\u00ae 700DX N-hydroxy succinimide (NHS) ester (IR700 dye)<br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">IR700 dye, a modified phthalocyanine, is distinguished by its hydrophilic structure, low toxicity, and light activation properties at a wavelength of 690 nm<\/span><sup>1<\/sup><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Since light at approximately 690 nm can penetrate tissues to a certain depth, IR700 dye is suitable for various light-based therapies, including photoimmunotherapy. Its applications range from basic research in academia to use in clinical trials. However, the complex and sensitive nature of the dye requires strict control over its synthesis, mass production, conjugation, and rigorous quality assurance processes. Rakuten Medical has developed proprietary manufacturing capabilities to ensure a stable commercial supply.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mitsunaga, Makoto et al. \u201cCancer cell-selective in vivo near infrared photoimmunotherapy targeting specific membrane molecules.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nature medicine<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0 vol. 17,12 1685-91. 6 Nov. 2011, doi:10.1038\/nm.2554<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><b>About Rakuten Medical, Inc.<br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rakuten Medical, Inc. is a global biotechnology company developing and commercializing Alluminox\u00ae platform-based photoimmunotherapy, which, in pre-clinical studies, has been shown to induce rapid and selective cell killing. Rakuten Medical\u2019s photoimmunotherapy is currently investigational outside Japan. Rakuten Medical is committed to its mission to conquer cancer by developing its pioneering treatments as quickly as possible to as many patients as possible all over the world. The company has offices in 5 countries\/regions, including the United States, where it is headquartered, Japan, Taiwan, Switzerland and India. For more information, visit <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rakuten-med.com\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">www.rakuten-med.com<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>About Alluminox\u00ae platform<br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Alluminox\u00ae platform is Rakuten Medical\u2019s investigational technology platform that combines pharmaceuticals, medical devices, medical technology, and other peripheral technologies. Rakuten Medical is developing Alluminox platform-based photoimmunotherapy, which involves two key steps: 1) drug administration and 2) targeted illumination using medical devices. The drug component consists of a cell-targeting moiety conjugated to a light-activatable dye, such as IRDye\u00ae 700DX (IR700), that selectively binds to the surface of targeted cells, such as tumor cells. The device component consists of a light source that locally illuminates the targeted cells with red light (690nm) to transiently activate the drug. Rakuten Medical\u2019s pre-clinical data have shown that this activation elicits rapid and selective necrosis of targeted cells through a biophysical process that compromises the membrane integrity of the targeted cells. Therapies developed on the Alluminox platform may also result in local and systemic innate and adaptive immune activation due to immunogenic cell death of the targeted tumor cells and\/or the removal of targeted immunosuppressive cells within the tumor microenvironment. Photoimmunotherapy was originally developed by Dr. Hisataka Kobayashi and his team at the National Cancer Institute in the United States. Outside Japan, Rakuten Medical\u2019s Alluminox platform-based photoimmunotherapy is investigational.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Forward Looking Statements\u00a0<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This press release contains forward looking statements that correspond to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include various risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that may cause Rakuten Medical\u2019s business plans and results to differ from the anticipated results and expectations expressed in these statements. These \u201cforward looking statements\u201d contain information about the status and development of our products, including the Alluminox\u00ae platform, as well as other regulatory and marketing authorization efforts, the potential benefits, efficacy, and safety of therapies created using the Alluminox platform, and the status of regulatory filings. The approval and commercial success of the product may not be achieved. Forward looking statements relate to the potential benefits, efficacy, and safety of our therapies, and the status of regulatory filings. Such statements may include words such as \u201cexpect,\u201d \u201cbelieve,\u201d \u201chope,\u201d \u201cestimate,\u201d \u201clooks as though,\u201d \u201canticipate,\u201d \u201cintend,\u201d \u201cmay,\u201d \u201csuggest,\u201d \u201cplan,\u201d \u201cstrategy,\u201d \u201cwill,\u201d and \u201cdo\u201d, and are based on our current beliefs. In addition, this press release uses terms such as \u201cimportant,\u201d \u201cnotable,\u201d and \u201cabnormal\u201d to express opinions about clinical trial data. Ongoing clinical trial studies include various risks and uncertainties, in particular, problems that arise during the manufacturing stage of our therapies, the occurrence of adverse safety events, situations in failure to demonstrate therapeutic benefits, and other various risks and uncertainties, both reasonable and unreasonable. For this reason, actual results, including regulatory approvals and uncertainties in the commercialization process of our therapies, may differ from published information. Except to the extent required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update this or any other forward-looking statement, whether because of new information, future developments or events, changes in assumptions, changes in the factors affecting forward-looking statements. If one or more forward-looking statement(s) is updated, no inference should be drawn that additional updates will be made to those or other forward-looking statements.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-7934-2\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-7934-2-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-7934-2-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-button panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"3\" ><div style=\"padding: 30px 0px 0px 0px;\" class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-7934-2-0-0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-button so-widget-sow-button-flat-6fd36f18507f-7934\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><div class=\"ow-button-base ow-button-align-center\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/rakuten-med.com\/us\/contact\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"rakuten-btn sowb-button ow-icon-placement-left ow-button-hover\" \t>\n\t\t<span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tContact Us\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rakuten Medical\u2019s light-activatable IR700 dye is a clinically validated component used in the approved medicine Akalux\u2122 With hydrophilicity and low [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-7934","1":"press_releases","2":"type-press_releases","3":"status-publish","5":"entry"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Rakuten Medical Expands Academic Access to IR700 Dye Through Fee-Only Provision, Greater Publication Freedom and Expanded IP &amp; 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