Aiming to seize business opportunities in precision medicine, BRIM Biotechnology announced during its investor conference on September 2 that it will invest NT$150 million to acquire a 40% stake in Compass Bioinformatics, becoming its largest shareholder. The move is expected to contribute to BRIM’s future revenue, while the company also partners with Argus Biomedical to jointly enter the regenerative medicine field.

BRIM is currently advancing four key ophthalmic drug development programs. The new drug BRM424, targeting neurotrophic keratitis, is expected to secure licensing by the end of the year, while its glaucoma drug BRM411 is likely to finalize international collaboration and licensing agreements next year.

BRIM Chairman Andrew Lin stated that the company is transitioning from a single-drug R&D model to a “co-development + investment and acquisition” dual-engine strategy. Moving forward, BRIM will simultaneously expand in three major areas—new drug development, regenerative medicine, and precision medicine—by deepening licensing collaborations and actively expanding into international markets.

Lin emphasized that BRIM is leveraging Compass Bioinformatics’ strengths in genetic testing and AI to enhance its precision medicine strategy. Compass’s InheriNext genetic diagnostic software has already received FDA SaMD Class I registration and has accumulated over 15,000 clinical data records from Asian populations. The company is now actively expanding into the Japanese and U.S. markets.

Compass’s clinical data platform integrates AI-based drug development models, which can help BRIM optimize drug selection, improve patient recruitment efficiency, and accelerate clinical trial design. According to Precedence Research, the global genetic testing market is projected to grow from US$21.89 billion in 2024 to US$65.03 billion in 2034, with a compound annual growth rate of 11.5%.

BRIM’s partnership with Argus Biomedical focuses on ophthalmology and degenerative arthritis. The collaboration aims to integrate BRIM’s peptide-based drug candidates with Argus’s regenerative medical devices, such as corneal repair membranes and cartilage repair materials developed using supercritical carbon dioxide fluid technology. The complementary technologies are expected to create innovative combination drug-device solutions and accelerate entry into international markets.

In addition to advancing its precision medicine layout, BRIM’s core PDSP peptide platform continues to achieve results. The dry eye drug BRM421 has completed formulation optimization and has received approval from Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare to conduct Phase II clinical trials, with patient enrollment expected to begin in the fourth quarter. BRIM also plans to submit a Phase III trial application to the U.S. FDA.

The neurotrophic keratitis drug BRM424 has demonstrated significant corneal repair effects in Phase II trials in the U.S. and Brazil. Compassionate use cases in the U.S. have also shown marked improvements in vision and quality of life for patients with severe limbal stem cell deficiency, and BRIM is considering launching new clinical trials targeting this condition.

BRM411, a glaucoma drug with an innovative mechanism of action, can both lower intraocular pressure and enhance aqueous humor outflow. It has received approval to conduct a Phase 1/2b clinical trial.

Meanwhile, BRM412, which targets ocular neovascularization, has completed formulation optimization. BRIM plans to seek FDA consultation and aims to make it the world’s first anti-neovascularization ophthalmic drug.

Resource: 鎖定精準醫療商機 全福砸1.5億元入股康百事