Biogen Idec buys neurodegenerative disease rights
pharmafile | December 21, 2010 | News story | Research and Development | Alzheimer's, Alzheimer's disease, Alzheimer’s, Alzheimer’s disease, Biogen, Biogen IDEC, Neurimmune, Parkinson's disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, neurodegenerative diseases
Biogen Idec has acquired a subsidiary of Swiss biotech company Neurimmune, and the rights to three pre-clinical immunotherapy drugs.
The three R&D programmes are focused on the discovery and development of new human antibodies to treat neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Biogen will make an initial payment of $32.5 million and up to $395 million in contingent payments.
This acquisition builds on a 2007 agreement between the two companies to explore human antibodies against beta-amyloid for the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. The drugs are designed to hit three central nervous system (CNS) targets: alpha-synuclein, tau and TDP-43.
The mis-folding of these three neurotoxic proteins is thought to be the cause of many neurodegenerative diseases.
Biogen Idec will oversee development of the pre-clinical candidates and the commercialisation of all products. Neurimmune will be responsible for additional scientific activities with respect to the lead candidates as well as the discovery of back-up candidates, utilising its proprietary ‘Reverse Translational Medicine’ technology platform. Neurimmune retains the right to use its platform for creating therapeutic antibody products outside the scope of its agreement with Biogen Idec.
“Biogen Idec is committed to becoming the global leader in the development of innovative therapies for neurodegenerative diseases,” said Alfred Sandrock, senior vice president, Neurology Research and Development, Biogen Idec.
“Neurimmune continues to impress us with their ability to translate scientific insights into innovative antibodies for the potential treatment and prevention of many neurodegenerative diseases. The unmet medical need among patients suffering from devastating neurodegenerative diseases is high, and we are excited to be moving these three promising programs forward.”
“We are pleased that Biogen Idec decided to acquire these candidate therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases,” said Roger Nitsch, founder and director of Neurimmune. “With its world-class expertise in the development, manufacturing and marketing of therapeutic antibodies for neurological diseases, Biogen Idec is the perfect strategic fit to drive the successful development of Neurimmune’s antibodies.”
“We are proud of what our team has achieved in proving once again the power of our human antibody discovery platform to generate highly valuable candidates for the development of immunotherapies for CNS indications,” said Jan Grimm, founder and CSO of Neurimmune.
Research into Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases is being pursued by many different pharma and biotech companies, but the field has been beset by setbacks.
Three drugs are currently in late stage development – Pfizer/Medivation’s Dimebon, J&J/Pfizer’s bapineuzumab, and Lilly’s solanezumab.
Andrew McConaghie
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