Under the agreement, Dimerix will acquire MTX652, a Phase II-ready selective USP30 inhibitor designed to restore mitochondrial quality control in injured kidney cells.
Mission Therapeutics will receive upfront and development and commercial milestone payments, alongside tiered royalties of up to double digits on global net sales.
The transaction will see Dimerix take responsibility for advancing MTX652 through clinical development for acute kidney disease.
The company specialises in renal disease and is currently progressing its Phase III ACTION3 programme in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS).
Mission Therapeutics said the divestment validates its USP30 platform and will provide non-dilutive funding to support development of its lead CNS asset, MTX325, which is being investigated as a potential disease-modifying treatment for Parkinson’s disease.
USP30 is a mitochondrial deubiquitylating enzyme (DUB) involved in regulating mitophagy — the cellular process responsible for removing damaged mitochondria.
By inhibiting USP30, Mission’s approach aims to enhance mitochondrial clearance and improve cellular function.
MTX652 previously completed Phase I clinical development, with Mission reporting positive safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic findings.
The programme includes an FDA-cleared Investigational New Drug (IND) application and an approved Phase II trial protocol designed to evaluate its potential to prevent kidney injury and preserve renal function.
Dr Anker Lundemose, Executive Director at Mission Therapeutics, said the partnership with Dimerix would provide MTX652 with an accelerated route towards patients while enabling Mission to concentrate resources on its CNS-focused pipeline.
Dimerix's deep domain focus on renal disease and their proven operational expertise make them an excellent partner to further the development and commercialisation of this important drug.
Dimerix CEO and Managing Director Dr Nina Webster added: "MTX652 represents an exciting and differentiated novel compound and the acquisition of a Phase II-ready programme in acute kidney disease represents an important step in executing our strategy to expand our renal pipeline."
This asset is highly complementary to our Phase III FSGS programme and broadens our development footprint across the kidney disease continuum, from acute injury through to chronic disease.
