Nxera Pharma to Regain Full Rights to GPR52 Agonist Program for Schizophrenia

Core Viewpoint - Nxera Pharma's GPR52 agonist program for schizophrenia will not be licensed by Boehringer Ingelheim, leading to the reversion of all rights and data back to Nxera [1] Group 1: GPR52 Agonist Program - NXE'149 and other GPR52 agonists were developed using Nxera's NxWave™ structure-based drug design platform to address positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia [2] - A Phase 1 trial of NXE'149 showed a favorable safety profile with no severe adverse events and demonstrated dose-proportional exposure and a long half-life supporting once-daily dosing [3] - The expression of GPR52 in brain regions linked to various schizophrenia symptoms suggests NXE'149 may treat all three symptom domains, offering a potential new therapeutic option [4] Group 2: Future Plans and Financial Impact - Nxera plans to explore strategic opportunities, including a formal out-licensing process for the GPR52 program in 2026 [5] - The decision by Boehringer Ingelheim does not impact Nxera's consolidated financial results for the current accounting period [5] - CEO Christopher Cargill expressed optimism about the potential of the GPR52 program despite the setback, highlighting the strong scientific and clinical foundations established [6] Group 3: Company Overview - Nxera Pharma is focused on developing specialty medicines to meet unmet medical needs in Japan and globally, leveraging its NxWave™ discovery platform [7][10] - The company has an extensive pipeline of over 30 active programs targeting major unmet needs in areas such as obesity, neurology, and immunology [9] - Nxera employs approximately 400 people across key locations including Tokyo, London, and Basel [10]