Zug, Switzerland & Barcelona, Spain, August 10, 2026
Oculis Holding AG and Accure Therapeutics S.L. have entered into an asset purchase agreement under which Oculis will acquire Accure’s worldwide development and commercial rights to Privosegtor (ACT-01), a clinical-stage neuroprotective drug candidate being developed for optic neuropathies and acute multiple sclerosis (MS) relapses. The transaction is designed to strengthen Oculis’ position in neuro-ophthalmology while providing the company with greater strategic flexibility and economic ownership of Privosegtor. The agreement includes a $3.8 million upfront cash payment and up to 2.05 million Oculis ordinary shares, subject to lockup provisions and development and regulatory milestones.
Oculis Gains Full Rights to Privosegtor
Under the agreement, Oculis will acquire Accure’s rights to Privosegtor, while also acquiring rights to ACT-02, an early-stage preclinical neurology drug candidate, through a separate transaction. The Privosegtor transaction is expected to close no later than February 28, 2027, while the ACT-02 transaction is expected to close by March 31, 2027, subject to separate conditions precedent. The combined consideration includes the upfront cash payment and Oculis shares that include both upfront shares subject to lockup release and earnout shares linked to development and regulatory milestones.
The acquisition will also terminate Oculis’ existing license agreement with Accure for Privosegtor, including associated milestone payments and royalties. Oculis expects the new structure to provide greater economic upside as development progresses while reducing the impact of the previous licensing arrangement. The company also expects to assume existing license agreements with academic institutions associated with the acquired assets.
Privosegtor Advances in Registrational Development
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Privosegtor is a novel peptoid small molecule designed to cross the blood-brain and retinal barriers and is being investigated as a potential neuroprotective therapy for optic neuritis (ON) and other neuro-ophthalmic and neuro-axonal diseases. Following positive results from the Phase 2 ACUITY trial, Oculis launched the PIONEER development program, which includes pivotal trials intended to support registration plans for Privosegtor in optic neuropathies.
The ongoing PIONEER-1 registrational trial is evaluating Privosegtor in patients following an acute onset of optic neuritis, including patients with and without multiple sclerosis. Oculis is also preparing an Investigational New Drug (IND) submission for the fourth quarter of 2026 for development of Privosegtor in acute MS relapses. The company recently reported positive FDA pre-IND feedback supporting a potential regulatory pathway for this indication.
Neuroprotective Candidate Targets Unmet Needs
Results from the ACUITY Phase 2 trial showed potential neuroprotective effects associated with improvements in visual function, anatomical preservation of retinal layers, including the ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and reduced blood neurofilament levels following acute optic neuritis. Oculis also reported consistent findings in animal models of glaucoma, optic neuritis, and multiple sclerosis.
Privosegtor has received FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation, EMA PRIME designation, and Orphan Drug designations from both the FDA and EMA for optic neuritis. The candidate is currently being evaluated in the PIONEER program, which includes two registrational trials in optic neuritis and one registrational trial in non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). The transaction gives Oculis greater control over the future development and commercialization of Privosegtor while expanding its focus on neuro-ophthalmic and neuro-axonal diseases. However, Privosegtor remains an investigational drug and has not received regulatory approval for commercial use in any country.
Source: Oculis, Accure Therapeutics press release
