Newron Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapies for diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system, and Myung In Pharm, the South Korean CNS specialist pharmaceutical company, have entered into a license agreement to develop, manufacture and commercialize Newron’s innovative modulator of the excessive release of glutamate, evenamide, an add-on therapy for treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) and poorly responding patients with schizophrenia, in South Korea.
Under the terms of the license agreement, Myung In Pharm will contribute 10% of the total patient population to be enrolled into Newron’s upcoming pivotal Phase III trial and cover the costs related to this population. Myung In Pharm’s involvement leverages its established clinical infrastructure and expertise in the central nervous system (CNS) field.
Furthermore, the company will bear a percentage of eligible global development costs and will also be responsible for all regulatory, registration, marketing, and commercialization costs for evenamide in South Korea. In return, Newron will receive an upfront payment, milestone payments for development and regulatory achievements, and royalties on net sales.
The Phase III randomized, double-blind, one-year trial is expected to begin in H1 2025 and will compare evenamide to placebo as an add-on treatment in at least 600 patients with TRS. It will be coordinated by Newron, who will oversee the trial design, execution, and data analysis. Myung In Pharm will be responsible for enrolling patients in South Korea through its extensive network of clinical sites, as well as providing support with monitoring and data collection.
Newron continues to pursue further development opportunities for evenamide in other territories. On December 13, 2024, Newron and EA Pharma announced a license agreement for evenamide in Japan and other Asian territories.
“We are thrilled to partner with Myung In Pharm in this important clinical trial and to grant them the rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize evenamide in South Korea,” said Stefan Weber, CEO of Newron. “Their strong expertise in CNS therapies and their clinical infrastructure will be instrumental in advancing the development of evenamide. This collaboration underscores our shared commitment to transforming the treatment landscape for patients with unmet needs.”
Hang Myung LEE, Chairman of Myung In Pharm, said: “Newron’s innovative approach aligns with our commitment to improving patient outcomes in the CNS area, and we believe our participation will make a significant contribution to the success of the study. Furthermore, we are honored to have received the license to commercialize evenamide in South Korea.
“This partnership presents a valuable opportunity for us to bring a new treatment option to patients in South Korea, a key market for Myung In Pharm. We look forward to working closely with the Newron team to bring this promising therapeutic to the forefront of clinical development and expand its impact in South Korea.”
