Drug company Curatis Holding AG and Japanese pharmaceutical company Neupharma Co, Ltd announced on Wednesday that they have signed an exclusive licensing and development agreement to commercialise corticorelin (C-PTBE-01) for the treatment of peritumoural brain edema (PTBE) in Japan.

Under the agreement, Neupharma will fund and conduct a pivotal clinical trial in Japan, targeting initial use in children and adolescents. Curatis will receive upfront and milestone payments totalling up to CHF83.5m, alongside royalties of up to 20% on future sales. A regulatory meeting with Japan's PMDA is planned for summer 2026, with the clinical study expected to start in 2027. Preparatory work for US and European Phase 3 trials and global partnering is continuing in parallel.

PTBE is a tumour-associated condition that currently has no targeted therapies. Standard corticosteroid treatment often causes severe side effects and can interfere with cancer therapies. Corticorelin, a 41-amino acid endogenous polypeptide, has demonstrated the potential to reduce or replace steroid use and improve patient quality of life. The Japanese market includes an estimated 60,000 eligible patients, with a global market exceeding USD1bn annually.

Curatis is a Swiss-listed company focused on developing and commercialising late-stage orphan and specialty drugs, with a portfolio of over 40 products. Neupharma specialises in innovative drugs for rare and progressive diseases, with a track record in oncology, cardiology and pulmonology.