DEBIOPHARM, DEVELOGEN ENTER INTO LICENSING AGREEMENT

Debiopharm and DeveloGen have entered into a collaboration and licensing agreement, by which Debiopharm will develop PTR-262, a novel peptide drug for the treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG), before out-licensing to global partners for commercialization.

PTR-262 is a synthetic peptide that regulates immune responses associated with myasthenogenic peptides. PTR-262 is derived from the myasthenogenic epitopes of the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) alpha-subunit, which specifically arrests the autoimmune destruction of AChR.

The most common form of MG is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disorder that is characterized by fluctuating weakness of the voluntary muscle groups. MG is characterized by T-cell mediated autoantibody attacks on the AChR at neuromuscular junctions, causing weakness and fatigue of cranial and skeletal muscles.