BRIEF—Nogra Pharma out-licenses acne asset to Torii

Ireland-based clinical-stage biotech Nogra Pharma has entered into an out-licensing agreement with Japan’s Torii Pharmaceutical to further develop and commercialize NAC-GED-0507 in Japan for the treatment of acne vulgaris.

Under the agreement, for which financial terms are not being disclosed, Torii Pharmaceuticals will gain exclusive development and commercialization rights for NAC-GED-0507 in Japan.

NAC-GED-0507 is an IP protected, Phase III-ready, small molecule selective modulator of the peroxisome proliferation-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), which has been developed by Nogra Pharma in a gel formulation, ideal for topical treatment of acne vulgaris.

NAC-GED-0507 has a novel mechanism of action, which acts on the primary pathogenetic factors of acne, with demonstrated: anti-inflammatory activity in both sebocytes and keratinocytes, sebogenesis-modulating activity in sebocytes, capability to “normalize” keratinocytes proliferation/differentiation process, altered by pro-inflammatory cytokines, and effect of induction of sebocytes differentiation.