Sperogenix Therapeutics, a platform company dedicated to developing and commercializing rare disease therapeutics in China, and Spain based Minoryx Therapeutics, a company that specializes in the development of innovative treatments for orphan Central Nervous System (CNS) diseases, have announced that they have entered into an exclusive license agreement for the development and commercialization of leriglitazone, Minoryx’s brain penetrating disease-modifying PPAR-γ agonist.
 
Sperogenix will receive exclusive rights to develop and commercialize leriglitazone in mainland China, Hong Kong special administrative region (SAR) and Macau SAR, for the treatment of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD), a life-threatening orphan neurological condition. Minoryx will receive an initial upfront payment and pre-defined regulatory and commercial milestone payments of up to $78 million, as well as double-digit royalties on annual net sales.

Leriglitazone is a novel bioavailable and selective PPAR-γ agonist, with the potential to become the world’s first treatment for X-ALD. It has received Orphan Drug Designation for X-ALD in both the U.S. and Europe, and Fast Track Designation as well as Rare Pediatric Disease Designation from the U.S. FDA. It is a global multi-centric, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2/3 study with data expected by the end of 2020.