Moberg Pharma AB has secured a major European commercialization partnership for its breakthrough topical nail fungus treatment MOB-015/Terclara, entering an exclusive licensing agreement with Karo Healthcare AB that spans 19 European markets representing approximately 500 million people. The deal enables a coordinated launch across all key EU markets and the United Kingdom under the globally recognized Lamisil brand.
The agreement covers all major EU countries including the "Big 5" markets as well as eleven countries where Terclara is already approved but not yet launched. Karo Healthcare will assume responsibility for marketing, distribution and sales throughout Europe, while financial terms remain undisclosed but include royalties and compensation for delivered products.
Clinical Breakthrough in Topical Antifungal Treatment
MOB-015/Terclara represents a significant advancement in nail fungus treatment, addressing longstanding challenges with topical terbinafine delivery. The innovative formulation achieved 76% mycological cure rates in registration studies, matching the efficacy of oral treatments while eliminating associated risks such as drug interactions and liver damage.
"MOB-015 is the first topical treatment that has achieved mycological cure on par with oral treatment," according to the companies. Previous attempts at topical terbinafine therapy failed due to insufficient drug penetration through the nail barrier, a problem that Moberg Pharma's formulation technology has successfully overcome.
Anna Ljung, CEO of Moberg Pharma, emphasized the strategic value of the partnership: "Launching MOB-015/Terclara under the well-known Lamisil brand gives us an exceptional opportunity to establish the product as the market leader also beyond Sweden and Norway."
Leveraging the Lamisil Brand Heritage
The partnership capitalizes on the established reputation of Lamisil, originally developed by Novartis and considered the gold standard for fungal infections. Terbinafine under the Lamisil brand is present in more than 60 markets worldwide and has become synonymous with antifungal treatment excellence.
Christoffer Lorenzen, CEO of Karo Healthcare, described the combination as "a perfect combination of scientific innovation and commercial strength that gives us a unique position in the market." The product will be marketed with the concept "Powered by Terclara" to maintain connection to Moberg Pharma's innovation.
Regulatory Strategy and Market Access
The launch strategy requires regulatory approval for brand name changes in respective national health authorities, which will influence timing across different markets. Both companies plan to initiate launches as soon as possible, with priority given to markets where Terclara already holds marketing authorization.
The companies will collaborate to expand current marketing authorizations to additional countries, though regulatory constraints prevent adding new countries during brand name transition processes.
Strategic Commercial Partnership
Karo Healthcare brings substantial European infrastructure to the partnership, with established distribution networks across major European pharmacy chains and capabilities for both prescription and over-the-counter products, including Rx-to-OTC switches. The company is backed by KKR, a leading global investment firm, and maintains ambitious growth plans across Europe.
This partnership provides Moberg Pharma with immediate broad market coverage and effective distribution that would have required significant time and investment to develop independently. While focusing European commercialization through Karo, Moberg Pharma retains plans for active commercial roles in other territories, particularly the United States.
The agreement represents a pivotal milestone in Moberg Pharma's commercial expansion strategy and establishes the foundation for MOB-015/Terclara to become the new European market leader in nail fungus treatment.
