News

Osaka, Japan, October 21, 2026 - Maruho Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka, Japan, President and CEO: Atsushi Sugita; hereinafter, "Maruho") today announced that it has entered into an exclusive license agreement with Incyte Corporation (Headquarters: Delaware, United States; CEO: Bill Meury; Nasdaq: INCY; hereinafter, "Incyte") for ruxolitinib cream, a topical formulation developed by Incyte that inhibits JAK1 and JAK2, in South Korea.

Under the terms of the agreement, Incyte will grant Maruho exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize ruxolitinib cream in South Korea. Maruho will make an upfront payment to Incyte, and Incyte will also be eligible to receive development and regulatory milestone payments, sales-based milestone payments and royalties on sales in South Korea.

Ruxolitinib cream is approved and marketed for atopic dermatitis and vitiligo in the United States and Europe. In April 2022, Maruho entered into a license agreement with Incyte for the exclusive development, manufacturing and commercialization of ruxolitinib cream in Japan and has since been advancing its development. Maruho now plans to develop ruxolitinib cream for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in South Korea.

This agreement represents an important step toward Maruho's Asia Dermatology Hub concept, through which the company seeks to contribute to addressing healthcare challenges across Asia by leveraging the strengths and expertise in dermatology it has developed in Japan. Maruho will continue to address overlooked unmet needs and provide new value to patients in Asia.

Notice
The information concerning pharmaceutical products and medical devices contained in this news release is not intended for promotional or advertising purposes or to provide medical advice.

Reference
・Incyte and Maruho Announce Strategic Alliance Agreement for Ruxolitinib Cream in Japan (April, 2022)https://www.maruho.co.jp/english/information/20220429.html

About MaruhoMaruho Co., Ltd. has its head office in Osaka and leads Japan in research and development, manufacturing and commercialization of dermatological products. Founded in 1915, Maruho has 1,632 employees (as of the end of September 2025), and net sales were approximately 78.92 billion yen in its fiscal year ended September 30, 2025. With the mission "More smiles, brighter life for you.", Maruho aims to help realize a society where everyone can live with a smile.
For more information, please visit https://www.maruho.co.jp/english/