Shionogi buys out sleep science venture for $100 million
塩野義以一億美元收購睡眠科學合資企業
Recent headlines claiming that Japanese pharmaceutical firm Shionogi bought out a sleep science venture for $100 million may be misleading.
近期標題宣稱日本製藥公司鹽野義（ㄧㄢˊㄧㄝˇㄧˋ）以一億美元收購了一家睡眠科學創投，這可能具有誤導性。
In reality, Shionogi and the Massachusetts-based biotech Apnimed have formed a deep strategic partnership.
事實上，鹽野義與總部位於麻薩諸塞州的生物技術公司 Apnimed 建立了深度的戰略合作夥伴關係。
In November 2023, they launched a 50-50 joint venture called Shionogi-Apnimed Sleep Science (SASS).
2023 年 11 月，他們成立了一家名為鹽野義-Apnimed 睡眠科學（SASS）的 50-50 合資企業。
This initiative focuses on developing new oral treatments for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
此計畫專注於研發治療阻塞性睡眠呼吸中止症（OSA）的新型口服藥物。
Unlike a total company acquisition, this collaboration combines Shionogi’s drug discovery expertise with Apnimed’s clinical research.
這項合作並非完全的公司收購，而是結合了鹽野義的藥物開發專業與 Apnimed 的臨床研究。
By 2025, the partnership expanded to include the drug sulthiame in their development pipeline.
到了 2025 年，該合作關係擴大，將藥物 sulthiame 納入其開發管線中。
Financial reports mentioning a $100 million figure often confuse this deal with unrelated funding rounds for 'sleep-fitness' technology firms like Eight Sleep.
提及一億美元財務數字的報導，通常將此交易與 Eight Sleep 等「睡眠健康」科技公司的無關融資混為一談。
Through SASS, the two companies aim to provide non-surgical, medication-based alternatives for patients.
透過 SASS，兩家公司旨在為患者提供非手術、藥物基礎的替代方案。
