Travere Therapeutics, Everest Medicines Partner to Advance Civorebrutinib

Travere Therapeutics struck a licensing deal with Everest Medicines to acquire rights in most markets outside China and parts of East and Southeast Asia to civorebrutinib, an experimental treatment for rare immune-mediated kidney diseases. The agreement gives San Diego-based Travere another pipeline asset in nephrology as it seeks to expand beyond its current renal franchise, while Shanghai-based Everest gains a global development partner and near-term cash.

Everest will receive $112.5 million upfront and is eligible for about $1.03 billion in additional development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments tied to as many as five indications, along with tiered royalties on future sales in the licensed territories. Everest will retain rights in China and certain countries in East and Southeast Asia. The companies said the transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions, including U.S. antitrust clearance.

Civorebrutinib, also known as EVER001, is an oral Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor being developed for disorders driven by abnormal immune activity in the kidney. Travere said it plans to advance the drug in primary membranous nephropathy, immune-mediated focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and minimal change disease. Early-stage data in primary membranous nephropathy have shown declines in disease-related antibodies and proteinuria through 52 weeks, findings that support broader development but still leave the drug at an early stage of testing.

For Travere, the agreement adds a potential follow-on growth driver in rare kidney disease shortly after the company broadened its commercial presence in the category. For Everest, the transaction underscores a strategy of keeping regional rights while seeking partners to develop selected internally sourced assets internationally. The deal also highlights continued industry interest in kidney disease, an area where companies are pursuing targeted therapies for patient groups with limited treatment options.