Newly-Formed Arvelle Therapeutics Acquires Exclusive Rights from SK Biopharmaceuticals to Develop and Commercialize Cenobamate in Europe
14.2.2019 11:00:00 EET | Business Wire | Press release
SK Biopharmaceuticals and Arvelle Therapeutics GmbH today announced that they have entered into an exclusive licensing agreement for Arvelle to develop and commercialize cenobamate in Europe. Cenobamate is a novel, small molecule investigational antiepileptic drug for the potential treatment of partial-onset seizures in adult patients. Under the agreement, SK Biopharmaceuticals will receive an upfront payment of $100 million and is eligible to receive up to $430 million upon achievement of certain regulatory and commercial milestones in addition to royalties on net sales generated in Europe. SK Biopharmaceuticals will have an option to obtain a significant equity stake in Arvelle and will also retain commercial rights for all non-European territories. Cenobamate was discovered and developed by SK Biopharmaceuticals from inception through to the acceptance of a New Drug Application (NDA) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“We are very pleased to enter into this licensing agreement with Arvelle, as it provides important validation of the global potential for cenobamate as a new treatment option for adults with partial-onset seizures,” said Dr. Jeong Woo Cho, President and CEO of SK Biopharmaceuticals. “Arvelle’s experienced leadership team and focus on CNS disorders make them the ideal partner to advance the development and commercialization of our compound in Europe.”
Arvelle Therapeutics is a newly created company that received one of the largest initial financing commitments for a European-focused biopharmaceutical company from a global syndicate of investors that include NovaQuest, LSP, BRV Capital Management, Andera Partners, and H.I.G. BioHealth Partners. Mark Altmeyer has been named President and CEO of Arvelle. Altmeyer brings more than 30 years of global biopharmaceutical experience to Arvelle. As President and CEO of Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc., Altmeyer oversaw the growth of Abilify® into a multi-billion-dollar product. Most recently, he served as President and Chief Commercial Officer of Axovant Sciences and previously led the neuroscience business unit at Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. Altmeyer is joined by a talented team of colleagues from Axovant with deep experience in CNS drug development and global commercialization. Arvelle intends to file a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for cenobamate for partial-onset seizures in adult patients based on the data generated from SK Biopharmaceuticals’ global clinical trial program.
“We launched Arvelle to bring truly innovative CNS products to patients suffering from serious neurological conditions and cenobamate is the perfect first pipeline product,” said Altmeyer. “Given the data generated in clinical trials and the FDA acceptance of the NDA, we believe cenobamate has the potential to be an important antiepileptic drug treatment option for adult patients suffering from partial-onset seizures. We appreciate the support and validation of our investors and are very enthusiastic about our potential in the European market.”
“We are very excited to invest in the talented team at Arvelle on this new venture,” said Martijn Kleijwegt, Managing Partner of LSP. “SK Biopharmaceuticals has done an excellent job on the discovery and development of cenobamate and we believe that Arvelle is the right company to gain EU approval for cenobamate and ultimately bring it to patients in Europe.”
About Cenobamate
Cenobamate (YKP3089) was discovered by SK Biopharmaceuticals and SK life science and is being investigated for the potential treatment of partial-onset seizures (also known as “focal seizures”) in adult patients. Cenobamate’s mechanism of action is not fully understood, but it is believed to work through two separate mechanisms: enhancing inhibitory currents through positive modulation of GABA-A receptors and decreasing excitatory currents by inhibiting the persistent sodium current.
Global trials for adults with partial-onset seizures are ongoing to evaluate cenobamate safety. An additional clinical trial is investigating cenobamate safety and efficacy for another form of epilepsy in adult patients.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted the filing of the New Drug Application for cenobamate for the potential treatment of partial-onset seizures in adults in February 2019.
Cenobamate is not approved by the FDA, European Medicines Agency (EMA) or any other regulatory authorities. Safety and efficacy have not been established.
About SK Biopharmaceuticals
SK Biopharmaceuticals is focused on research and development of treatments for disorders of central nervous system (CNS) and cancer. SK Biopharmaceuticals is an affiliate of SK Group, the second largest conglomerate in Korea.
Currently, SK Biopharmaceuticals is conducting basic research for the development of innovative new drugs at its research center in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province, Korea. Further, the company is pursuing global clinical development and direct marketing through its U.S. subsidiary SK Life Science, Inc., in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, USA.
SK Biopharmaceuticals has a pipeline of eight compounds in development for the treatment of CNS disorders including epilepsy, sleep disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, among others. The first product the company is planning to commercialize, cenobamate (YKP3089), is an investigational compound for the potential treatment of partial-onset seizures in adult patients. The NDA for cenobamate for the potential treatment of partial-onset seizures in adult patients is currently under review by the FDA. For more information, visit SK Biopharmaceuticals’ website at www.skbp.com/eng.
About Arvelle Therapeutics
Arvelle Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company with the mission of bringing innovative solutions to patients suffering from CNS disorders. Arvelle is responsible for the development and commercialization of cenobamate, an investigational antiepileptic drug, in the European market. Arvelle is headquartered in Switzerland and received one of the largest initial financing commitments for a European-focused biopharmaceutical company with investments from a global syndicate including NovaQuest Capital Management, LSP, BRV Capital Management, Andera Partners and H.I.G. BioHealth Partners. More information is available at http://arvelletx.com/.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190214005290/en/
Contact information
For Arvelle Therapeutics:
Mike Beyer, Sam Brown Inc.
mikebeyer@sambrown.com
312-961-2502
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Sultan bin Ahmed visits Huawei R&D Centre and SMG in China13.2.2026 19:52:00 EET | Press release
His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, visited the Huawei Research and Development Centre and Shanghai Media Group (SMG) in Shanghai, People’s Republic of China. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260213682693/en/ Sultan bin Ahmed visits Huawei R&D Centre and SMG in China (Photo: AETOSWire) His Highness toured Huawei Village, which spans 2.2 million square metres and comprises over 100 buildings and laboratories, employing more than 30,000 staff. He observed the master plan of the village and its key facilities that support the company’s business strategy and product development. He also reviewed the specifications of the buildings, constructed to the highest standards, and the diverse services provided to employees, including restaurants, cafes, entertainment venues, and rest areas. The center also offers easy access via train
Volue Welcomes TA Associates as New Strategic Investor13.2.2026 12:15:00 EET | Press release
Volue, a global leader in electrification and energy technology, today announced that TA Associates (“TA”), a leading global private equity firm, has joined as a new strategic investor alongside Advent International (“Advent”), Generation Investment Management (“Generation”) and Arendals Fossekompani. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260213436945/en/ Over the past 18 months, Volue has undergone a strategic transformation to sharpen its focus on the energy sector. During this period, Volue divested non-core activities and invested in targeted R&D innovation and strategic acquisitions to further position Volue as a leading provider of integrated technology solutions for power trading and generation, grid optimization, and energy market intelligence. Operating at the center of one of the most mission-critical markets of our time, Volue provides technology that enables utilities, grid operators, traders, and energy
ABB strengthens electrical engineering advisory capabilities in Europe with Premium Power acquisition13.2.2026 11:30:00 EET | Press release
ABB today announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Premium Power, a leading electrical engineering consultancy headquartered near Dublin, Ireland. For more than two decades, Premium Power has established its reputation as a trusted advisor to large customers, particularly in data centers, pharmaceutical manufacturing and other mission-critical sectors where electrical resilience, uptime and regulatory compliance are essential. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026. Financial terms were not disclosed. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260213161407/en/ Paula O'Neill, Managing Director, Premium Power (L) and Owen Flood, Local Division Manager, ABB Electrification Service (R) As demand for electrification accelerates and power systems become more complex due to digitalization, renewable integration and grid constraints, customers increasingly require specialist advisory suppo
EnergyAustralia, Enerven and NHOA Energy Mark Financial Close and Project Launch of the 245 MWh Hallett Battery in South Australia13.2.2026 09:00:00 EET | Press release
NHOA Energy, global provider of utility-scale energy storage systems, today marked together with EnergyAustralia and Enerven the official project launch of a 245 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Hallett, near the town of Canowie, in South Australia, following the achievement of financial close and the project’s transition into the delivery phase. The milestone was announced today during a project launch ceremony held at the Hallett Power Station, attended by representatives of EnergyAustralia, Enerven, NHOA Energy, government, Traditional Owners and local community stakeholders. Owned and developed by EnergyAustralia, the Hallett BESS is being built alongside the existing Hallett gas-fired power station and represents the first stage of a broader site development. As delivery partner for Stage 1 of the project, NHOA Energy will supply a Battery Energy Storage System delivering 245 MWh of guaranteed usable energy capacity (50 MW with five hours of storage) at Beginning of Lif
Echoworx Encryption Arrives on AWS Marketplace: Frictionless Security for a Global World13.2.2026 08:00:00 EET | Press release
Echoworx, the trusted name in email encryption, is now live on AWS Marketplace—fully deployed on AWS infrastructure. For global businesses, this means securing sensitive communications just got a whole lot easier, starting from purchase. Why AWS Marketplace? Why Now? Echoworx’s mission has always been to make secure communications as easy and accessible as possible. By joining the AWS Marketplace, Echoworx is taking this mission a step further, ensuring that customers can procure its encryption solution with the same ease and efficiency they experience when using it. Cross-border compliance, taxes, and billing headaches slow teams down. With AWS Marketplace, Echoworx customers bypass the usual red tape: automated tax and regulatory handling, simple multi-currency billing, and support for Private Offers. That translates to custom pricing and contracts in local currencies, less foreign exchange guesswork, and a procurement process built for modern enterprise. "Our partnership with AWS Ma
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom