Asieris Pharmaceuticals (Shanghai Stock Exchange: 688176) has agreed to grant London-based Theramex exclusive rights to Cevira (APL-1702), a photodynamic drug-device combination product for HPV-associated cervical precancerous lesions.
The deal covers Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Turkey, with a total potential value in excess of USD 250 million. The agreement includes a USD 15 million upfront payment and USD 11 million in near-term regulatory milestones, plus commercial milestones and tiered royalties; the upfront is conditional on execution of a supply agreement, successful manufacturing-site audits, alignment with an upstream licensing agreement, and clarification with the European Commission on the clinical value assessment of the device. Asieris retains rights for the rest of the world.
Cevria combines a topical photosensitizer with controlled light activation in an intravaginal device, allowing treatment without surgical removal of cervical tissue. China’s National Medical Products Administration approved the product for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 (CIN2) in March 2026, while the European Medicines Agency accepted its marketing authorization application for review in February.
In the Phase III APRICITY trial, CEVIRA achieved a six-month response rate of 41.1%, compared with 21.7% for placebo, while HPV16/18 clearance rates were 31.4% and 15.4%, respectively. The product is among several non-surgical approaches being investigated for cervical precancerous lesions. In May 2026, INOVIO Pharmaceuticals and its Chinese partner ApolloBio reported positive Phase III results for VGX-3100, a therapeutic DNA vaccine targeting HPV16/18-associated cervical dysplasia.