Specialty biopharma company Hyloris Pharmaceuticals SA (Euronext Brussels:HYL) announced on Monday that it has entered a strategic partnership with US-based Kuvatris Therapeutics to support the development of Suramin IV, an investigational treatment for human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as African sleeping sickness.

The agreement includes up to USD2m in milestone-based R&D funding and a USD1.6m equity investment by Hyloris, securing just under 20% ownership in Kuvatris.

The Suramin IV programme, currently in phase 3 development, targets US Food and Drug Administration approval by 2027. Upon approval, the product is expected to qualify for a Tropical Disease Priority Review Voucher (PRV), which has recently commanded sale values near USD150m.

Hyloris will be entitled to just over 50% of net proceeds from any future PRV sale. Suramin IV is already in use in several African countries but is not yet approved in the United States.

Kuvatris also plans to develop Suramin for autism spectrum disorder symptoms. If Hyloris co-funds up to USD3m toward these trials, it will receive 20% of future returns from that indication. No further investment in Kuvatris is currently anticipated beyond this optional contribution.