On 10 August 2026, Shenzhen CrystalO Biopharma Co., Ltd. (“CrystalO”) announced that it has entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement with Almirall, S.A. (ALM), a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to medical dermatology based in Barcelona, Spain (“Almirall”).
Under the terms of the agreement, CrystalO will leverage its leading AI- and structure-based drug discovery platform to conduct candidate compound discovery, optimization, IND-enabling studies and early clinical development, to advance the program through proof of concept (POC) clinical testing. Almirall will hold exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize the relevant compounds and products in global markets outside Chinese mainland, whereas CrystalO will retain exclusive rights to develop and commercialize such products in Chinese mainland after the program achieves POC.
Under the agreement, CrystalO will receive an upfront payment from Almirall, and is also eligible to receive success-based payments tied to research, development, regulatory and commercial milestones, as well as tiered royalties based on future net sales of the product. At the same time, CrystalO will pay Almirall tiered royalties based on future sales of the product in Chinese mainland.
Han Kun acted as legal counsel to CrystalO in this collaboration and license transaction, providing comprehensive legal services throughout the engagement. The Han Kun team was led by Yang (Aaron) Gu, with support from a cross-practice legal team comprising Jing (Gilbert) Shen, Zhiyao (Yvaine) Liu, Fengqi (Franky) Yu, Jianan Liu, Xiaofu Ning and Jingjing Xu. The team was deeply involved in all key stages of the transaction, including agreement revision and negotiation. With expertise across life sciences and healthcare transactions and negotiations, regulatory compliance, and intellectual property, the Han Kun team delivered comprehensive and multi-dimensional legal support to the client, demonstrating Han Kun's outstanding capabilities in handling complex cross-border licensing transactions in the life sciences and healthcare sector.
About CrystalO
Shenzhen CrystalO Biopharma Co., Ltd. is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the research and development of innovative ion channel drugs. The company’s core team is led by high-level overseas talents, including Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine and founder of the ion channel field Erwin Neher as Chief Scientific Advisor, as well as PhDs from top research institutions and pharmaceutical companies such as Harvard University. The team’s R&D capabilities in highly stable ion channel antigen-antibody, structural analysis, structure-based and AI-based drug discovery, and pharmacology are at the world’s leading level. The company is committed to the independent research and development of first-in-class innovative drugs and has a rich R&D pipeline in the ion channel field.
About Almirall
Almirall is a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to medical dermatology. We closely collaborate with leading scientists, healthcare professionals, and patients to deliver our purpose: to transform the patients’ world by helping them realize their hopes and dreams for a healthy life. We are at the forefront of science to deliver ground-breaking, differentiated medical dermatology innovations that address patients’ needs. Almirall, founded in 1944 and headquartered in Barcelona, is publicly traded on the Spanish Stock Exchange (ticker: ALM, total revenue in 2025: €1114.5 MM, over 2100 employees globally). Almirall products help to improve the lives of patients every day and are available in over 100 countries.
Han Kun's Life Sciences and Healthcare Practice
Han Kun is widely recognized and well-known for its practice in life sciences and healthcare. In relevant practice areas, we have been continuously ranked as a first-tier law firm by authoritative legal ranking agencies, including Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500, China Business Law Journal, Asialaw Profiles, etc. Han Kun is committed to providing clients with comprehensive legal services in life sciences and healthcare sector, including private equity and venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, onshore and offshore capital market, pharmaceutical license in/out and asset sale/purchase transactions, intellectual property, data protection, compliance and regulatory, and dispute resolution. Han Kun has a dedicated life sciences and healthcare team led by multiple partners and comprised of tens of specialist attorneys. Our partners on the team all have served a broad range of both domestic and foreign clients and developed a deep understanding of industry regulatory requirements and commercial course of dealings. Our associates on the team are graduates from top law schools both in China and abroad, all fluent in Chinese and English and equipped with excellent legal writing skills. Han Kun is well aware of the importance of professional legal services for life sciences and healthcare companies, especially those facing complex legal issues and therefore requiring special legal support. Clients value our teamwork as we fully leverage the expertise and experience of our professionals, all experts in their respective fields. Our goal is always to provide clients with thorough and practical solutions and high-quality legal services.
