Schlieren-based biotech company Neurimmune has entered into an exclusive global collaboration and license agreement with Alexion, AstraZeneca’s Rare Disease group. The two aim to develop NI006, an investigational human monoclonal antibody targeting misfolded transthyretin. Neurimmune will receive a $30 million upfront payment.
Neurimmune is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company translating human immune memory into antibody therapeutics. The company develops drug candidates for the Central Nervous System and related protein aggregation diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies and ATTR cardiomyopathy.
One of its discoveries was aducanumab, a human monoclonal antibody that removes amyloid beta from the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease – the drug was licensed to Biogen. With its Reverse Translational Medicine technology, it also discovered the anti-tau antibody BIIB076 for Alzheimer’s disease, the anti-miSOD1 antibody AP-101 for ALS and the anti-ATTR antibody NI006 for ATTR cardiomyopathy, a systemic, progressive and fatal condition that leads to progressive heart failure and high rate of fatality within four years from diagnosis. It remains underdiagnosed and its prevalence is thought to be underestimated due to a lack of disease awareness and the heterogeneity of symptoms.
NI006 is currently in Phase Ib development for the treatment of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM). “ATTR-CM is characterized by deposition of misfolded and aggregated transthyretin in the heart. Using our Reverse Translational MedicineTM technology, we developed a human monoclonal antibody that exclusively targets ATTR to remove amyloid from hearts,” said Jan Grimm, CSO of Neurimmune.
The startup is now licensing to Alexion, AstraZeneca’s Rare Disease group. Under the agreement, Alexion will be granted an exclusive, worldwide license to develop, manufacture and commercialize NI006. While Neurimmune continues to be responsible for completing the current Phase 1b clinical study on behalf of Alexion, Alexion will be responsible for further clinical development, manufacturing, and commercialization.
Furthermore, Neurimmune will receive an upfront payment of $30 million with the potential for additional contingent milestone payments of up to $730 million payable upon achievement of certain development, regulatory and commercial milestones, as well as low-to-mid teen royalties on net sales of any approved medicine resulting from the collaboration.
(Press release/RAN)
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