Oculis Joins the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Campaign to End MS
Oculis Joins the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Campaign to End MS
Oculis and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s campaign share a common goal to accelerate breakthroughs in MS research and improve patients’ quality of life
ZUG, Switzerland, October 1, 2026 -- Oculis Holding AG (Nasdaq: OCS / XICE: OCS) (“Oculis”), a global biopharmaceutical company focused on breakthrough innovations to address significant unmet medical needs in neuro-ophthalmology, is partnering with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society on its Campaign to End MS, as the industry partner focusing on Vision, officially launching today, on October 1, 2026. This 5-year campaign aims to accelerate research breakthroughs, improve access to care, and create a future where no one lives with the uncertainty of multiple sclerosis (MS). By bringing together people affected by MS, researchers, healthcare leaders, advocates, and supporters, the campaign seeks to translate scientific progress into meaningful advances in treatment and care, while strengthening the resources and support available to the MS community. Oculis’ sponsorship reflects a shared commitment to advancing innovation, addressing unmet needs, and improving the lives of people affected by MS.
As part of the campaign, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is convening respected MS thought leaders, health industry and corporate leaders, researchers, and healthcare providers across three programs: a CEO Roundtable, Big Bets for Breakthroughs: The MS Research Symposium, and the Campaign to End MS Gala.
Riad Sherif, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Oculis, said, "Our sponsorship of the National MS Society's Campaign to End MS marks the beginning of what we believe will be a long-term partnership with an organization that has spent 80 years advancing research and care for people living with MS. We share the Society's commitment to accelerating progress for people affected by MS and, through our Privosegtor development program, we are working to advance a much-needed neuroprotective treatment option for patients experiencing optic neuritis and acute MS relapses.”
Oculis is currently developing Privosegtor with the aim to provide the first neuroprotective therapy for optic neuritis (ON), a common MS relapse type and often the first manifestation of MS, with broad potential applicability in other neuro-ophthalmic and neurological diseases. Following the successful Phase 2 ACUITY trial, Oculis launched the PIONEER (Privosegtor Investigation in Optic Neuropathies Efficacy Evaluation Research) program, which includes two registrational trials in ON. In addition, following positive pre-IND FDA feedback supporting Privosegtor’s development strategy for treating acute MS relapses, Oculis is on track to submit the related IND in the fourth quarter of this year. The Company plans to host an R&D Day in Q4 to provide updates on its pipeline and development programs, including Privosegtor.
- Ends -
About Privosegtor
Privosegtor, a novel peptoid small-molecule candidate that crosses the blood-brain and retinal barriers, has the potential to become the first neuroprotective therapy for optic neuritis (ON) and other neuro-ophthalmic and neuro-axonal diseases. Positive results from the ACUITY Phase 2 trial showed Privosegtor’s neuroprotective potential, as evidenced by improvements in visual function, corroborated by anatomical preservation of the retina, including GCIPL and RNFL layers, and reduced neurofilament levels in the blood after an acute episode of optic neuritis. Consistent results were observed in animal models of glaucoma, optic neuritis, and multiple sclerosis (MS), where Privosegtor preserved retinal ganglion cells and was associated with improvements in mobility (clinical function disability) in the MS model.
Privosegtor has received Breakthrough Therapy designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Priority Medicines (PRIME) designation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) as well as Orphan Drug designation from both the FDA and the EMA for ON. Privosegtor is currently being evaluated in Oculis’ PIONEER (Privosegtor Investigation in Optic Neuropathies Efficacy Evaluation Research) program, which includes two registrational trials in ON and one registrational trial in non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Building on the ACUITY Phase 2 dataset in ON and constructive FDA pre-IND feedback, Oculis is also planning an IND submission for Privosegtor for the treatment of acute MS relapses.
Privosegtor is an investigational drug and has not received regulatory approval for commercial use in any country.
About MS
MS is a chronic immune-mediated disease affecting approximately 2.8 million people worldwide, including around 850,000 in the U.S. alone.1-3 It is currently managed using immunomodulators or disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) that reduce the rate of relapses and therefore related relapse-associated worsening (RAW). However, relapses still persist for many patients, with an estimated 170,000 MS relapses occurring each year in the U.S.4 During an acute relapse, neurologists commonly use a short course of high-dose corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and shorten the episode, as is also standard of care in optic neuritis. However, corticosteroids do not mitigate the long-term disability, and recovery from relapses is often incomplete, such as in optic neuritis. There are currently no neuroprotective therapies approved for MS relapses, and there remains an urgent unmet medical need for treatments that can prevent central nervous system damage.
About Oculis
Oculis is a global biopharmaceutical company (Nasdaq: OCS; XICE: OCS) focused on breakthrough innovations to address significant unmet medical needs in neuro-ophthalmology. Oculis’ highly differentiated late-stage clinical pipeline focuses on two core product candidates. Privosegtor is a breakthrough neuroprotective candidate in the PIONEER program, which consists of studies intended to support registration plans for treatment of optic neuropathies, including optic neuritis (ON) and non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Privosegtor also has potential to be developed for additional indications in other neuro-ophthalmic and neuro-axonal diseases. Licaminlimab is a novel, topical anti-TNFα in a registrational trial, and is being developed with a genotype-based approach for treating patients with dry eye disease (DED). Headquartered in Switzerland with operations in the U.S., Iceland and Switzerland, Oculis is led by an experienced management team with a successful track record and supported by leading international healthcare investors.
For more information, please visit: www.oculis.com
About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
The National MS Society, founded in 1946, is the global leader of a growing movement dedicated to creating a world free of MS. The Society funds cutting-edge research for a cure, drives change through advocacy and provides programs and services to help people affected by MS live their best lives.
Oculis Contact
Ms. Sylvia Cheung, CFO
sylvia.cheung@oculis.com
Investor Relations
LifeSci Advisors
Corey Davis, Ph.D.
cdavis@lifesciadvisors.com
Media Relations
ICR Healthcare
Amber Fennell
oculis@icrhealthcare.com
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements and information. For example, statements regarding the potential benefits of the Company’s product candidates, including the potential for Privosegtor to become the first neuroprotection therapy for optic neuritis and its potential broad applicability across neurology, including in acute MS relapses, the initiation, enrollment, timing, progress and results of current and future clinical trials, Oculis’ research and development programs, regulatory and business strategy; Oculis’ future development plans; the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals; and statements about market opportunity, are forward-looking. All forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Oculis and its management, are inherently uncertain and are inherently subject to risks, variability, and contingencies, many of which are beyond Oculis’ control. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by an investor as, a guarantee, assurance, prediction or definitive statement of a fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Results of earlier stage clinical trials may not be replicated in subsequent clinical trials. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those that we expected and/or those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of Oculis, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of Oculis’ annual report on Form 20-F and any other documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Copies of these documents are available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. Oculis undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.
References:
- MS National Society
- Wallin et al., 2019, The prevalence of MS in the United States: A population-based estimate using health claims data - PubMed
- McGinley et al., 2021, Diagnosis and Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis: A Review - PubMed
- Multiple sources on relapse rate (ARR) including: Ocrelizumab versus fingolimod after natalizumab cessation in multiple sclerosis: an observational study - PubMed