Wintermute Biomedical has signed a MoU with Ego Pharmaceuticals to support further clinical development of Solexan™ and explore future commercialisation opportunities in Australia and selected international markets.
Wintermute Biomedical and Ego Pharmaceuticals today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the further development of Solexan™, Wintermute’s first-in-class antiviral topical therapy to reduce shingles pain and improve lesion healing. The MoU establishes Ego’s supporting role for a planned Phase II clinical trial, and it provides a framework under which Wintermute and Ego might seek to commercialise Solexan™ in Australia and other select key markets.
Wintermute Executive Chairman, Mr. Paul Field, commented: “We are excited to work with an Australian owned company that has been deeply committed for many years to developing skincare products backed by science. Following our successful Phase Ib ZosterEase clinical trial in 2025, we are now looking forward to moving Solexan™ into Phase II and, ultimately, closer to the patients who are seeking an effective treatment of their painful lesions”.
Ego Pharmaceuticals Managing Director, Alan Oppenheim AM said: “Shingles is a very painful disease lacking effective treatments, the prevalence of which is increasing annually. Ego's support of Wintermute's Phase II Clinical Trial aligns with our purpose of transforming lives through the science of healthy skin. We are hopeful that Solexan™ is successful in the Phase II clinical trials, and we look forward to supporting Wintermute throughout this process.”
The collaboration brings together Wintermute's proprietary antimicrobial platform technology and clinical development expertise with Ego's extensive experience in skincare product development, manufacturing, and commercialisation.
As Wintermute advances Solexan™ toward later-stage clinical development, the company continues to pursue strategic partnerships that strengthen its ability to deliver innovative therapies to patients suffering from viral skin diseases.
Shingles affects millions of people globally and can cause severe pain, skin lesions, and long-term complications. Wintermute believes Solexan™ has the potential to address a significant unmet clinical need by reducing pain and improving lesion healing through a novel topical treatment approach.
Solexan™ is Wintermute Biomedical's lead clinical-stage product candidate and is based on the company's patented antimicrobial platform technology. The therapy is being developed as a first-in-class topical treatment for shingles, with potential future applications across a broader range of viral skin infections.
Ego Pharmaceuticals is an Australian, privately-owned skincare manufacturer, founded in 1953 by chemist Gerald Oppenheim and his wife, Rae. Committed to high-quality, science-backed formulations, Ego specialises in the research, development, and marketing of innovative products that restore and maintain healthy skin. Their trusted portfolio, which includes the renowned QV Skincare, is manufactured in their own world-class Melbourne facility and is available in over 20 countries worldwide.