Newron Partners With Myung In Pharm For Evenamide Development In South Korea

Newron Pharmaceuticals S.p.A., a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing novel treatments for central and peripheral nervous system disorders, has partnered with Myung In Pharm Co. Ltd., South Korea’s leading CNS-focused pharmaceutical company, through a licensing agreement. This collaboration aims to advance the development, production, and commercialisation of Newron’s promising therapy, evenamide, in South Korea. Evenamide is an add-on treatment designed to address treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) and poorly responsive schizophrenia patients.

Stefan Weber, CEO of Newron, said in a statement, “We are thrilled to partner with Myung In Pharm in this important clinical trial and to grant them the rights to develop, manufacture and commercialise evenamide in South Korea. Their strong expertise in CNS therapies and their clinical infrastructure will be instrumental in advancing the development of evenamide. This collaboration underscores our commitment to transforming the treatment landscape for patients with unmet needs."

As part of the agreement, Myung In Pharm will contribute 10% of the patients for Newron’s upcoming Phase III clinical trial and cover the associated costs for this population. Leveraging its extensive CNS expertise and clinical infrastructure, Myung In Pharm will also share a portion of the global development expenses. Additionally, the company will manage all regulatory, registration, marketing, and commercialisation activities for Evenamide in South Korea. Newron will receive an upfront payment, milestone payments tied to development and regulatory achievements, and royalties based on net sales. Specific financial details remain undisclosed.

“Newron’s innovative approach aligns with our commitment to improving patient outcomes in the CNS area, and we believe our participation will significantly contribute to the study's success. Furthermore, we are honoured to have received the license to commercialise 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,” said Hang Myung LEE, Chairman of Myung In Pharm. 

The Phase III trial is set to begin in the first half of 2025 and will involve at least 600 TRS patients in a year-long, double-masked, randomised study comparing evenamide to a placebo as an add-on therapy. Newron will oversee the trial design, execution, and data analysis. At the same time, Myung In Pharm will recruit patients through its extensive clinical network and support monitoring and data collection in South Korea. This agreement with Myung In Pharm follows Newron’s recent partnership with EA Pharma, an Eisai Co., Ltd. subsidiary, to bring evenamide to Japan and other Asian territories, announced in December 2024.