Debiopharm and DeveloGen sign partnering agreement

Debiopharm - an independent drug development company specialising in oncology and endocrinology - and DeveloGen - a biopharmaceutical company focused on novel treatments for metabolic disorders - have signed an exclusive worldwide collaboration and licensing agreement which will see Debiopharm undertake the development of PTR-262, a novel peptide drug for the treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG), before out-licensing to global partners for commercialisation.

Under the terms of the agreement, DeveloGen will receive milestone payments and, upon commercialisation of the product, royalties based on Debiopharm's revenues from worldwide sales.

PTR-262, discovered at the laboratories of Professors Michael Sela and Edna Mozes at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel, is a synthetic peptide that down regulates immune responses associated with myasthenogenic peptides. It is derived from the myasthenogenic epitopes of the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) alpha-subunit, which specifically arrests the autoimmune destruction of AChR.

In preclinical models of MG, treatment by PTR-262 created a shift in the immune system from a Th1 to a Th2/Th3 response, resulting in significant improvement of a number of clinical parameters, including grip strength and electromyography. In peripheral blood serum derived from MG patients it inhibited the proliferation of T-cell populations responsible for myasthenogenic autoimmune mediated reactions and thus the development of MG.

Rolland-Yves Mauvernay, president and ceo of Debiopharm said: 'PTR-262 is a novel approach that may replace the currently used immunosuppressive drugs and avoid the side-effects that myasthenia gravis sufferers may experience. It represents a significant improvement over current therapies and a promising treatment option for myasthenia gravis patients'.