Pharma, BioPharma

Novartis boosts neuro pipeline through alliance on UCB Parkinson’s drugs

Novartis is paying UCB $150 million up front to share in the development of two clinical-stage Parkinson’s disease drugs that offer new approaches to treating the disease. Depending on the progress of those drugs, UCB could earn up to $1.5 billion in milestone payments.

Neurons

 

The field of Parkinson’s drug research includes many companies developing therapies addressing a toxic protein linked to the progression of the disease, and Novartis is joining the chase via an alliance with UCB. Novartis has agreed to pay UCB $150 million up front to share in the development of two clinical-stage drugs.

The neuronal protein that Brussels, Belgium-based UCB and other Parkinson’s drug developers are pursuing is called alpha synuclein. It’s found in abundance in the brain, where it plays a role in the transmission of signaling molecules between neurons. But in Parkinson’s, the protein misfolds and builds up. Aggregated alpha synuclein is associated with the progression of the disease.

The most advanced of UCB’s two Parkinson’s drug candidates is UCB0599, an oral drug that comes in capsule form. The small molecule is designed to penetrate into the brain, where it is intended to stop the misfolding of alpha synuclein. The drug is one of several that were discovered by San Diego-based Neuropore Therapies and licensed by UCB in 2014. UCB0599 is currently under evaluation in a placebo-controlled Phase 2a study with a targeted enrollment of about 300 patients in the early stages of Parkinson’s. In its report of financial results for the first half of 2021, UCB said preliminary data from that study are expected in 2023. According to terms of the collaboration, both companies will co-develop and co-fund further development of UCB0599.

The second UCB Parkinson’s drug candidate is an antibody code-named UCB7853 that’s currently in Phase 1 testing. Novartis has the right to opt into global development of that antibody after the drug completes UCB’s Phase 1 test. If Novartis exercises that right, the two companies would then share in the costs of further clinical development of the drug.

Depending on the clinical development and regulatory progress of both Parkinson’s drugs, UCB could earn up to $1.5 billion in regulatory and sales milestones, if they are approved. The agreement calls for both companies to share responsibility for bringing them to the market; UCB will take the lead in Europe and Japan while Novartis will lead commercialization in the U.S. and all other regions.

“It is our long-term ambition to transform the treatment landscape from the management of symptoms, to treatments that can slow or stop the progression of disease,” Charl van Zyl, UCB’s executive vice president, neurology and head of Europe/international markets, said in a prepared statement.” By sharing resources and working together we think we can best optimize our chances of success and realize our Parkinson’s ambitions.”

In partnering with UCB, Novartis has the opportunity to shore up its neuroscience prospects. The Swiss pharma giant’s neuro drug lineup currently includes spinal muscular atrophy gene therapy Zolgensma and the multiple sclerosis drug Kesimpta. Before the deal with UCB, Novartis did not have any Parkinson’s candidates in clinical development.

Other companies developing alpha synuclein-targeting drugs include AC Immune, which acquired rights to Affairs’ pipeline of Parkinson’s programs, the most advanced of which is a Phase 2-ready therapeutic vaccine from Affiris. In September, startup Vanqua Bio launched with $85 million in funding to support its development of small molecules intended to restore the ability of cells to clear away toxic proteins.

Meanwhile, GlaxoSmithKline has aligned itself with Alector to share in the development of that biotech’s two lead drugs in development for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Alector’s drugs are designed to restore the ability of neuronal immune cells to regulate immune activity in the brain. The biotech has said its drugs could work in conjunction with alpha synuclein-targeting therapies.

Image: Dr_Microbe, Getty Images

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