Quoin Pharmaceuticals and ER-Kim have expanded their exclusive distribution agreement for the former’s investigational therapy, QRX003, to treat Netherton Syndrome.

QRX003 is being developed as a potential therapy to treat Netherton Syndrome, a rare, hereditary skin disorder that is caused by a mutation in the SPINK5 gene (serine protease inhibitor, Kazal Type 5).

It is a once-daily topical lotion that includes a broad-spectrum serine protease inhibitor, formulated with the Invisicare delivery technology.

Initially, the companies entered into an exclusive distribution agreement for QRX003 last month.

Under the deal, ER-Kim secured exclusive rights to market QRX003 in 15 countries that included Slovakia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Hungary, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Romania, Albania, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Croatia, Czechia, Moldova, Poland, Serbia, and Slovenia.

Now, the company gained the rights to commercialise the therapy in six additional countries that include Cyprus, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia, Greece, and Malta.

Quoin Pharmaceuticals CEO Michael Myers said: “We are extending our agreement with ER-Kim, a leading commercial partner for global biotech and pharma, with the addition of six new countries to the territory they have the rights to.

“The expansion of our partnership with Er-Kim will facilitate more streamlined and effective commercialisation of QRX003 in the region, once approval has been obtained.

“Quoin now has 60 countries under partnership distribution agreements for QRX003, which has the potential to become the first approved treatment for Netherton Syndrome.”

QRX003 is being developed for additional rare disease indications in addition to Netherton Syndrome.

No approved therapeutic treatments are available for Netherton Syndrome currently.