vTv Therapeutics Amends License Agreement with Newsoara Biopharma Co. Ltd. for PDE4 inhibitor, HPP737
Rhea-AI Summary
vTv Therapeutics (Nasdaq: VTVT) amended its license with Newsoara to grant an exclusive worldwide license to develop and commercialize PDE4 inhibitor HPP737. vTv will receive a $20 million upfront payment, up to ~$50 million in development milestones, up to $65 million in sales milestones, and tiered royalties.
vTv continues to advance cadisegliatin in its ongoing Phase 3 CATT1 trial while leveraging the Newsoara collaboration to monetize and de-risk HPP737 globally.
Positive
- $20 million upfront payment strengthens vTv balance sheet immediately
- Exclusive worldwide license broadens commercial potential for HPP737
- Up to $115 million potential milestones (development + sales) plus tiered royalties
Negative
- Development and commercialization of HPP737 now partner‑led, reducing vTv operational control
- Future payments are contingent on milestones and not guaranteed
News Market Reaction – VTVT
On the day this news was published, VTVT gained 8.19%, reflecting a notable positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +13.8% during that session. Our momentum scanner triggered 9 alerts that day, indicating moderate trading interest and price volatility. This price movement added approximately $13M to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $167M at that time.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
VTVT rose 3.69% while closely scored biotech peers like RLMD (-8.74%), SER (-5.80%), and JUNS (-5.75%) were down, and only one peer appeared in momentum scans, pointing to stock-specific drivers rather than a sector-wide move.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 18 | Clinical trial plan | Positive | +3.7% | Submitted Phase 2 cadisegliatin protocol for 300 T2D patients in MENA region. |
| Nov 06 | Earnings and update | Positive | +5.1% | Reported Q3 2025 results, funded via $80M private placement, strong cash. |
| Oct 09 | SAB appointments | Positive | +3.5% | Expanded Scientific Advisory Board to support Phase 3 cadisegliatin program. |
| Sep 15 | Scientific presentation | Positive | +3.3% | Announced INNODIA symposium presentations on TTP-RA and cadisegliatin data. |
| Sep 03 | Investor conferences | Neutral | -1.8% | Planned participation at two September investor conferences and meetings. |
Recent news—clinical, earnings, and corporate updates—has often been followed by single‑day gains of roughly 3–5%, suggesting a pattern of positive reactions to company developments.
Over the past several months, vTv has focused on advancing cadisegliatin and strengthening its balance sheet. A September 2025 private placement raised $80 million, contributing to cash of $98.5 million at September 30, 2025. Clinically, the company progressed to a Phase 3 CATT1 trial in type 1 diabetes and submitted a 12‑month, 300‑patient Phase 2 protocol in type 2 diabetes. Corporate activities included new scientific advisory board appointments and investor conference participation. The new global HPP737 license fits this pattern of partnering and pipeline monetization alongside ongoing cadisegliatin development.
Regulatory & Risk Context
An effective S-3 shelf registration dated 2025-10-03 registers up to 15,876,640 shares of Class A common stock and related warrants and pre-funded warrants, providing the company with flexibility to raise capital as needed during the shelf’s effective period.
Market Pulse Summary
The stock moved +8.2% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with vTv’s history of favorable responses to clinical and corporate milestones, which often saw single‑day gains of around 3–5% after news. The amended HPP737 license adds an upfront $20 million plus up to $115 million in milestones, complementing prior financings and an effective shelf registration. Investors would need to monitor how quickly milestone triggers progress and whether any future equity usage under the shelf affects sentiment.
Key Terms
pde4 inhibitor medical
phosphodiesterase type 4 (pde4) medical
phase 3 medical
phase 1 medical
royalties financial
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Strategic amendment transforms regional partnership into global collaboration; Newsoara gains exclusive worldwide license to develop and commercialize novel PDE4 inhibitor
vTv to receive
HIGH POINT, N.C., Feb. 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- vTv Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: VTVT), a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of cadisegliatin, a novel, potential first-in-class oral adjunctive therapy to insulin being investigated for the treatment of type 1 diabetes (“T1D”), today announced that it has expanded its license agreement with Newsoara Biopharma Co. Ltd. (“Newsoara”) to provide Newsoara with global rights to the Company’s PDE4 inhibitor, HPP737. Pursuant to the amended license agreement, Newsoara has obtained an exclusive, worldwide license to develop and commercialize Company’s PDE4 inhibitor, HPP737, in exchange for an upfront payment and potential future milestone payments and royalties on net sales.
“We are pleased to expand our license with Newsoara to allow the further development and commercialization of HPP737 globally. The amendment strengthens our balance sheet with the upfront payment of
In addition to the upfront payment of
“Over the last several years, vTv and Newsoara have enjoyed a productive and collaborative relationship, and this exciting expansion of the relationship will help accelerate the clinical development of our highly differentiated and potential best-in-class PDE4 inhibitor, HPP737,” said Rich Nelson, Executive Vice President, Chief Business Officer of vTv Therapeutics. “Alliance management is a major strategic priority for vTv, and our strong relationship with Newsoara demonstrates this commitment and our mutual desire to advance new and innovative therapies for inflammation-mediated disease.”
“We are pleased to expand our collaboration with vTv and secure global rights to HPP737, a highly differentiated oral PDE4 inhibitor with the potential to address unmet needs in inflammation-mediated disease,” said Dr. Benny Li, Chief Executive Officer of Newsoara. “With this expanded license, we plan to leverage our development and commercialization capabilities to advance HPP737’s progress and, if approved, bring it to patients worldwide.”
HPP737, a selective phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4) inhibitor, has shown therapeutic activity in several animal models of inflammation. In phase 1 studies, HPP737 was well tolerated with little or no gastrointestinal distress. Preclinical and clinical data suggest that HPP737 may be able to expand the therapeutic use for this target, which has been limited by the side-effects of currently available PDE4 inhibitors.
About HPP737
HPP737 is a novel, potent, and selective phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4) inhibitor in development for the treatment of psoriasis. HPP737 has shown potent inhibition of interleukin-23 (IL-23) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) production in vitro and in vivo, as well as therapeutic activity in several animal models of inflammation. In addition, HPP737 showed target engagement ex vivo. PDE4 inhibitors increase intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP) levels, resulting in broad anti-inflammatory effects. However, the therapeutic potential of PDE4 inhibitors has historically been limited by dose-limiting adverse events, including nausea and emesis. Preclinical and clinical data to date suggest HPP737 may avoid some of the gastrointestinal side effects (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) commonly associated with other PDE4 inhibitors.
About Cadisegliatin
Cadisegliatin (TTP399) is a novel, oral small molecule, liver-selective glucokinase activator being investigated in the US as a potential first-in-class oral adjunctive treatment for type 1 diabetes (T1D). In non-clinical studies, cadisegliatin, acting selectively on the liver, increased the activity of glucokinase independently from insulin which supports clinical investigation of improvement in glycemic control through hepatic glucose uptake and glycogen storage. Cadisegliatin has been granted Breakthrough Therapy designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Cadisegliatin is under investigation, and the safety and efficacy have not been established. There is no guarantee that this product will receive health authority approval or become commercially available for the use being investigated.
About vTv Therapeutics
vTv Therapeutics is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing oral, small molecule drug candidates intended to help treat people living with diabetes and other chronic diseases. vTv’s clinical pipeline is led by cadisegliatin, currently in a US Phase 3 trial, a potential first-in-class oral glucokinase activator being investigated for the treatment of type 1 diabetes. vTv and its development partners are investigating multiple molecules across different indications for chronic diseases. Learn more at vtvtherapeutics.com or follow the company on LinkedIn or X.
About Newsoara
Newsoara is a biopharmaceutical company established in 2018 dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative therapies that deliver differentiated and clinically valuable benefits to patients in three strategically focused therapeutic areas, namely, (i) autoimmune diseases, (ii) oncology and (iii) metabolic diseases. Each of these therapeutic areas is characterized by substantial unmet medical needs and high growth potential, positioning Newsoara to capture significant market opportunities in these therapeutic areas.
Newsoara adopts a global development strategy with a number of product candidates advancing clinical trials in China, U.S. and Australia. Newsoara has also been actively pursuing dual regulatory filings for internally discovered product candidates in China and the U.S. As part of global development strategy, Newsoara fosters an open and collaborative mindset and has established an array of value-accreditive strategic partnerships.
Forward-Looking Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and, in each case, their negative or other various or comparable terminology. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this release, including statements regarding the satisfaction of the closing conditions set forth in the securities purchase agreement, the expected use of proceeds from the offering, the timing of our clinical trials, the anticipated effect of Phase 3 topline data on the Company, the benefits of cadisegliatin to people living with T1D, our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected costs, prospects, plans, objectives of management and expected market growth are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our results to vary from expectations include those described under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our other filings with the SEC. These forward-looking statements reflect our views with respect to future events as of the date of this release and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this release and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or review publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this release. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our views to change. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, merger, dispositions, joint ventures, or investments we may undertake. We qualify all our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.
Investor Contact
John Fraunces
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
917-355-2395
jfraunces@lifesciadvisors.com
Media Contact
Caren Begun
TellMed Strategies
201-396-8551
caren.begun@tmstrat.com
FAQ
What did vTv Therapeutics (VTVT) announce on February 2, 2026 about HPP737?
What are the financial terms of the VTVT and Newsoara amended license for HPP737?
How does the $20 million upfront payment affect vTv Therapeutics (VTVT)?
What does an exclusive worldwide license to HPP737 mean for shareholders of vTv (VTVT)?
Will the HPP737 deal change vTv's clinical focus on cadisegliatin and the Phase 3 CATT1 trial?
