Nxera Pharma has signed an assignment agreement with Viatris and Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd., regarding the development and commercialization of cenerimod, a clinical-stage immunology candidate for autoimmune diseases, in Japan, South Korea, and certain countries in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region (excluding China).

The agreement was signed concurrently with Nxera’s assignment of its option to these same rights from Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd under its agreement in July 2023 to acquire Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Japan Ltd and Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Korea Co., Ltd.

Nxera will receive an upfront payment of USD 10 million from Viatris and is eligible to receive a milestone payment upon regulatory approval of cenerimod in Japan plus royalties on net sales should it be commercialized in the assigned territories. Nxera will pay no option exercise fee or make any other payments to Idorsia in relation to cenerimod.

Viatris will be the exclusive owner of cenerimod rights in Japan and APAC (ex-China). Viatris gained exclusive rights to cenerimod in all other territories from Idorsia through a research and development agreement signed in February 2024 and following this agreement with Nxera, now owns exclusive global rights to the candidate.

Cenerimod, a highly selective, oral sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1P1) modulator, was discovered by Idorsia and is being developed by Viatris and Idorsia for multiple immune disorders, including in Phase 3 trials as a potential first-in-class, oral therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Dr. Makoto Sugita, EVP, CMO and President of Nxera Pharma Japan, said, “Cenerimod has demonstrated compelling disease-modifying activity across multiple autoimmune disorders and already has become a key development asset for Viatris within its immunology platform. In gaining and transferring Japan and APAC (ex-China) rights to Viatris, we are confident that cenerimod is in the best place to be advanced to fulfil its potential for patients while at the same time maximising value for Nxera shareholders.”