BRIEF—Relief and Acer agree new terms for Olpruva collab

Swiss rare disease specialist Relief Therapeutics has entered into a new exclusive licensing agreement with Acer Therapeutics for Olpruva (sodium phenylbutyrate).

Building on a prior collaboration, which has now been superseded, Acer will pay $10 million upfront as part of a licensing agreement related to certain urea cycle disorders (UCD).

Olpruva was approved in this indication in the USA in December 2022.

Acer will retain global rights to the therapy in UCDs, with a further $1.5 million cash payment due after one year. Relief will also be eligible for royalties on sales.

Acer will also gain the right to develop the therapy in additional indications in the USA and other countries, but not in Europe.

Relief chief executive Jack Weinstein said: “We are very happy to have re-structured our collaboration with Acer Therapeutics which includes provisions that we believe will benefit both parties, and ultimately those suffering from UCDs and other potential rare metabolic conditions.”