Curatis and Neupharma Sign Exclusive Licensing Deal to Develop Corticorelin for Brain Oedema Treatment in Japan
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Curatis Holding AG and Neupharma Co., Ltd. have signed an exclusive licensing and development agreement for corticorelin (C-PTBE-01) in Japan.
Under the agreement, Neupharma will obtain exclusive rights to develop and commercialise corticorelin for the treatment of peritumoral brain oedema (PTBE) in Japan. PTBE is a tumour-related condition that currently has no approved targeted therapies. Neupharma will fund and carry out a pivotal clinical trial in Japan to support a regulatory submission in the country.
Curatis will receive upfront and milestone payments linked to regulatory and commercial achievements, with the total value reaching up to CHF 83.5 million. The company will also earn royalties of up to 20% on future sales of corticorelin in Japan.
The companies plan to initially introduce corticorelin in Japan for children and adolescents. A meeting with the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) to discuss the registration-enabling study is planned for summer 2026, while the clinical trial is expected to begin in 2027.
At the same time, preparations for a pivotal Phase 3 study to support approval in the United States and Europe are continuing, along with global partnership activities.
Curatis’ lead product candidate, C-PTBE-01 (corticorelin), is being developed to treat PTBE. This condition occurs alongside many primary and metastatic brain tumours, often linked to cancers such as lung cancer, breast cancer, melanoma and colorectal cancer. PTBE causes swelling around the tumour due to fluid build-up, which can affect brain function and lead to symptoms including headaches, vomiting, paralysis, speech problems, vision issues and changes in mental state.
The standard treatment for PTBE involves corticosteroids, but these medicines often cause serious side effects such as severe muscle weakness, disrupted glucose metabolism, weight gain, osteoporosis, gastritis, gastrointestinal bleeding, hypertension and personality changes. Corticosteroids may also reduce the effectiveness of some cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and certain immunotherapies that depend on proper T-cell function.
Corticorelin is a 41-amino-acid endogenous polypeptide that has shown the ability in preclinical studies to help restore the blood–brain barrier after it is disrupted by malignant tumours. Clinical studies in patients with PTBE have indicated that corticorelin may significantly reduce, or in some cases replace, the use of steroids, potentially lowering steroid-related side effects and improving patients’ quality of life.
More than 150,000 patients in the United States alone are affected by PTBE, and the potential annual market opportunity for corticorelin is estimated to exceed USD 1 billion. Corticorelin remains an investigational medicine and has not yet been approved for therapeutic use in the United States or other regions.
Source: businesswire.com
