Topadur Pharma AG and Oshen Holdings SA have signed an agreement to develop the liquid topical formulation of TOP-M119 for treating alopecia. The contract covers co-development, licensing and commercialisation rights for Greater China. Oshen will invest CHF 3 million in Topadur. The deal also includes milestone payments totalling CHF 12 million, which cover the entire estimated development costs.
Androgenic alopecia is the most common form of hair loss in both men and women. According to data published by the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, around 60% of the global population has hair thinning problems and pattern hair loss. The global alopecia market, valued at USD 8.8 billion in 2023, is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 9%, reaching over USD 16 billion by 2030.
TOP-M119 is a promising drug candidate with a novel mode of action. Pre-clinical studies have shown that TOP-M119 is superior to the standard of care, with a much higher potency, a faster onset of action and improved local tolerability. In addition to the topical formulation, Topadur is working on intradermal sustained release formulations for medical cosmetics targeting alopecia and skin ageing.
"Based on our pre-clinical data, we believe that TOP-M119 can become a game changer in treating hair loss and improving hair quality. The partnering agreement with Oshen enables us to speed up development of TOP-M119 and provide faster access to patients,” said Pascal Brenneisen, CEO of Topadur Pharma AG.
“We are very pleased to be partnering with Topadur to develop TOP-M119. The science behind this asset is exciting and the progress made to date is compelling - we look forward to progressing the drug candidate into clinical studies.” said Didier Cowling, Managing Partner Oshen Holdings SA.
The contract between Topadur and Oshen covers co-development, licensing and commercialisation rights for Greater China, focusing initially on completing the IND studies and clinical phases I and II. Oshen will invest CHF 3 million in Topadur. The deal also includes milestone payments totalling CHF 12 million, which cover the entire estimated development costs.
Oshen is a European-based family office that invests in inventors and visionary teams developing novel and disruptive technologies shaping the future of better ageing. Focusing on medtech and biotech, Oshen invests across a broad spectrum of companies, from early-stage to market ready.
(Press release / SK)
The new Swiss Venture Capital Report was published on 26 January. It analyses 304 financing rounds closed in 2020 and includes further article such as an interview with Michael Hengartner, President of the ETH Board, and a list of Swiss "soonicorns". 
Please login or sign up to comment.
Commenting guidelines