Biopharma companies pursued fresh licensing and investment agreements this week, moving to expand pipelines in oncology and ophthalmology while also opening new commercial territory in Europe.

When talking with Pharmaceutical Executive, Cheryl Reicin, partner and international chair of life sciences at Mintz, noted the importance of replenishing product pipelines and investing back into therapies. "Pharmaceutical companies need to replenish their pipelines. With the patent cliffs coming upon us and the increased industry competition, pharma companies have no choice but to make investments."

UroGen Pharma & IntraGel Therapeutics

IntraGel Therapeutics, a developer of next-generation long-acting injectables, entered into an equity investment agreement and a strategic Option and Research License Agreement, referred to as the Option Agreement, with UroGen Pharma.

Under the equity investment agreement, UroGen will invest up to $7 million in IntraGel's equity securities, with proceeds supporting Phase II clinical development of Tumocure, IntraGel's investigational therapy for advanced head and neck cancer.¹ Under the Option Agreement, UroGen will receive an exclusive option to obtain a worldwide license to develop and commercialize Tumocure once IntraGel completes a Phase II clinical study.¹

UroGen will also gain access to IntraGel's proprietary SRGel platform, a biodegradable sustained-release formulation technology designed for localized drug delivery, through a research license and option to secure an exclusive, worldwide license to develop and commercialize up to three additional oncology products pairing the SRGel platform with compounds designated by UroGen.¹

Tumocure is an investigational cisplatin product formulated with the SRGel platform and is designed to enable prolonged localized drug exposure while limiting systemic exposure.¹ Phase Ib clinical data presented at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting showed Tumocure was generally safe and well tolerated, produced low systemic cisplatin exposure, and provided early indications of anti-tumor activity in a heavily pretreated patient population, including patients with cisplatin treatment-resistant disease. Investigators also reported improvements in tumor-related symptoms in certain patients.¹

"UroGen's leadership in localized oncology therapies and commercial-stage experience make them an ideal collaborator to help advance the SRGel platform and accelerate the development of Tumocure," said Peter Siman, Ph.D., chief executive officer and co-founder of IntraGel Therapeutics. "We see this collaboration as an important validation of our SRGel platform and the clinical potential of our lead investigational product, Tumocure, while creating a strong pathway to accelerate development across multiple oncology indications."

Dr. Siman added that IntraGel is continuing to advance additional candidates built on the broadly applicable SRGel platform, including its internally developed IG-003 with GLP-1 analogues for weight management, along with monoclonal antibody and peptide programs developed through ongoing collaborations.

Lupin licenses Yuvezzi from Tenpoint Therapeutics

Lupin Limited announced that VISUfarma B.V., a wholly owned subsidiary of Lupin, has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Visus Therapeutics Inc., a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of Tenpoint Therapeutics Holding Limited.

The agreement gives VISUfarma exclusive rights to undertake regulatory activities, commercialization, marketing, promotion, distribution, and sale of Yuvezzi (carbachol and brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution) 2.75%/0.1%, a proprietary ophthalmic product indicated for the treatment of presbyopia in adults, across the European Union, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland.² As part of the agreement, VISUfarma will make a strategic investment in Visus. Tenpoint and Visus, individually or collectively, will also be eligible to receive regulatory and commercial milestone payments, along with tiered royalties based on net sales.²

Yuvezzi is a once-daily, dual-agent eye drop approved by FDA for the treatment of presbyopia, a condition marked by the gradual loss of near vision acuity that typically begins around age 45.² The product combines two medicines that work together to improve close-up vision: carbachol helps pupils constrict, making it easier to focus up close, while brimonidine helps keep pupils from dilating too much. It is described as the first and only approved once-daily, dual-agent eye drop for presbyopia.²

"We are delighted to partner with Tenpoint Therapeutics to bring a novel ophthalmic therapy that advances our Specialty Care strategy," said Vinita Gupta, chief executive officer of Lupin. "Building on the strategic acquisition of VISUfarma, this partnership further strengthens our vision care franchise and expands our presence across key European markets. The addition of Yuvezzi underscores our commitment to broadening access to differentiated therapies, improving patient outcomes, and reinforcing our leadership in eye care across the Licensed Territories."

Tenpoint is separately advancing commercialization of Yuvezzi in the U.S. following its recent FDA approval there, and the company has already submitted a marketing authorization application in the United Kingdom through the MHRA's International Recognition Procedure, with plans to pursue regulatory applications for Yuvezzi in additional key regions worldwide.²

Sources

1. IntraGel Therapeutics and UroGen Pharma Sign Strategic Collaboration and Investment Agreements to Advance Sustained-Released Investigational Oncology Therapies INtraGel Therpaeutics August 20, 2026, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/intragel-therapeutics-and-urogen-pharma-sign-strategic-collaboration-and-investment-agreements-to-advance-sustained-released-investigational-oncology-therapies-302856274.html
2. Lupin and Tenpoint Therapeutics Announce Strategic Partnership to Commercialize Yuvezzi in the European Union, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland Lupin Limited August 20, 2026, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lupin-and-tenpoint-therapeutics-announce-strategic-partnership-to-commercialize-yuvezzi-in-the-european-union-the-united-kingdom-switzerland-norway-and-iceland-302856231.html