Switzerland-based Oculis Holding AG (Nasdaq: OCS) has agreed to acquire all worldwide development and commercial rights to Privosegtor from Spain-based Accure Therapeutics, S.L., converting an existing license into full ownership and terminating the associated milestone and royalty obligations. The transaction also includes rights to ACT-02, an IND-enabling preclinical Parkinson’s disease candidate from Accure. The deal sees Oculis looking to consolidate its pipeline around two neuro-ophthalmology assets following its Phase III OCS-01 failure in diabetic macular edema earlier in 2026.
Total consideration for both closings comprises an upfront cash payment of USD 3.8 million (CHF 3.1 million) at the first closing, plus up to 2,050,000 Oculis ordinary shares issued to Accure. The shares consist of upfront shares subject to a lockup releasing over up to two years, and earnout shares that vest upon achievement of defined development and regulatory milestones. Oculis will assume existing license agreements with the academic institutions that originated both assets — including IDIBAPS-Hospital Clinic, the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), and the Universitat de Barcelona — which carry low single-digit royalty obligations under Spanish law. The Privosegtor transaction is expected to close by February 28, 2027. Subject to that closing, Oculis expects to complete the separate acquisition of ACT-02 by March 31, 2027.
Privosegtor is a peptoid small molecule that crosses both the blood-brain and retinal barriers, the company said, and is being developed as a neuroprotective agent for optic neuritis (ON) and other optic neuropathies. In the completed Phase II ACUITY trial, Privosegtor demonstrated improvements in low-contrast visual acuity alongside anatomical preservation of the ganglion cell inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and reduced blood neurofilament levels following acute ON episodes. The asset holds US FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation, European Medicines Agency Priority Medicines (PRIME) designation, and Orphan Drug status from both agencies for ON. Oculis has initiated the PIONEER registrational program — three pivotal trials covering ON and non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) — with PIONEER-1 sites activating, and the company said it received positive FDA pre-IND feedback supporting a development pathway for acute multiple sclerosis relapses, ahead of a planned Q4 2026 IND submission.