Clinuvel enters dermatology drug JV

Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals (ASX:CUV) has entered a joint venture with Biotech Lab Singapore to develop paediatric formulations of two dermatology drugs.

The joint venture, Vallaurix, will be responsible for the final development of formulations of afamelanotide and melanocortin peptide CUV9900.

Clinuvel has developed afamelanotide - under the Scenesse brand - as a treatment for erythropoietic protophoria (EPP), a rare and severe skin condition characterised by a painful sensitivity to light. The JV will formulate a juvenile version.

Vallaurix will also aim to develop a paediatric version of CUV9900, intended for use as a complementary therapy in photodermatoses and depigmentation disorders such as vitiligo.

Clinuvel acting chief science officer Dr Dennis Wright said the timing of the company’s European CE Mark application for Scenesse - the European Medicines Agency is due to make its decision in October - influenced the decision to form the joint venture.

Chair Stan McLiesh added that its joint venure partner will provide the company “with access to Asia and China and [is] capable of proportionately sharing in the development costs and the commercial upside of future products”.

Clinuvel separately announced results from a US phase IIa study of Scenesse in vitiligo. The open-label trial evaluated the use of Scenesse in combination with narrowband UVB light therapy.

Investigators found that the drug was well tolerated and the combination therapy “resulted in clinically apparent, statistically significant superior and faster re-pigmentation” compared to narrowband UVB therapy alone.

Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals (ASX:CUV) shares were trading 6.32% higher at $5.05 as of around 3.30 pm on Monday.