Almirall signed a research and licensing agreement with Shenzhen CrystalO Biopharma Technology Co., Ltd. Consequently, both companies will jointly develop groundbreaking treatments in medical dermatology. This alliance combines CrystalO’s expertise in ion channels with Almirall’s deep clinical development capabilities. Furthermore, the partnership accelerates the discovery of novel small molecules for debilitating skin conditions globally.
Under the terms, CrystalO will utilize its AI-driven drug discovery platform. Specifically, CrystalO leads compound discovery, optimization, IND-enabling studies, and early clinical trials through proof of concept. Almirall then has the sole rights to market the drug worldwide, except for mainland China. Meanwhile, CrystalO still retains full operational rights in mainland China. The strategic structure will greatly strengthen Almirall’s specialized R&D footprint in Asian biotech hubs. It also promotes state-of-the-art scientific solutions for complex conditions in medical dermatology.
Balanced Financial Incentives and Shared Milestones
The financial conditions include an initial payment by CrystalO to Almirall. Additionally, CrystalO will earn success-based research, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments. CrystalO also receives tiered sales royalties outside mainland China. Conversely, CrystalO will pay Almirall tiered royalties on product sales within mainland China. Therefore, both pharmaceutical developers share direct incentives to achieve clinical success.
“This collaboration with CrystalO marks another important step in advancing our innovation strategy in China and further reinforces our strong R&D pipeline in medical dermatology. We look forward to the potential this discovery partnership holds for delivering meaningful benefits to patients living with skin conditions worldwide,” commented Dr. Karl Ziegelbauer, Chief Scientific Officer at Almirall.
Dr. Zhang Jin, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CrystalO said: “We are honored to enter into a strategic collaboration with Almirall, a leading company with a strong global reputation in dermatology. This collaboration is a prominent recognition of CrystalO’s technology platform and R&D capabilities in ion channel drug discovery. We look forward to working closely with the Almirall team, fully leveraging the strengths of both parties, accelerating the development of innovative medicines, and bringing benefits to patients worldwide as early as possible”.
Almirall is, of course, committed to the development of new clinical therapies in medical dermatology. Almirall has invested more than 1 billion Euros in R&D for skin science in the last decade. In 2025, the company spent around 12.5% of its net sales on research. This makes the integration of CrystalO’s platform a natural fit with Almirall’s long-term vision.
Almirall is headquartered in Barcelona and has a global footprint with over 2,100 employees. The public company had total revenues of €1,114.5 million in 2025. Today, Almirall provides specialized therapies to patients in more than 100 countries. This partnership attests to its continued ambition to control therapeutic solutions in medical dermatology.
In addition, ion channel target discovery is a major technological frontier of contemporary drug design. CrystalO uses AI platforms to rapidly identify highly selective chemical candidates. Almirall will then progress these candidate compounds through global regulatory approval pathways. The companies will work together to speed up the early stages of trials.
Ultimately, this collaboration increases therapeutic options for patients with inflammatory skin diseases. Both leadership teams anticipate quick progress as initial discovery phases commence immediately. ”This means that Almirall continues to set the standard for innovation in medical dermatology.” The venture also underscores the strength of global cross-border partnerships in biotechnology. Almirall and CrystalO will work together to develop and commercialize breakthrough therapies in medical dermatology globally.
Explore Health Tech Insiders for the latest medical innovations and reliable strategic insights driving the future of technology-driven healthcare transformation.
News Source: Businesswire.com
