Biogen and Alectos Therapeutics have entered into a license and collaboration agreement to develop and commercialize a novel preclinical selective GBA2 inhibitor, AL01811, which has first-in-class potential as an oral disease modifying treatment for patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). This collaboration combines Alectos’ expertise in small-molecule therapeutics with Biogen’s development capabilities in movement disorders.
Increasing evidence suggests that lysosomal dysfunction plays a key role in the pathology of neurodegenerative disease, including PD. Small-molecule GBA2 inhibitors have been shown to reduce lysosomal pH and increase levels of the lysosomal proton pump vATPase, which is involved in maintaining the acidic pH required for lysosomal function. Currently, there are no approved disease modifying therapies for PD, creating significant unmet needs for patients seeking to slow disease progression. If approved, AL01811 has the potential to improve the standard of care for movement disorders such as PD, which affects approximately 10 million patients worldwide1.
“Through this collaboration with Alectos, we hope to improve the lives of people living with Parkinson’s disease by advancing the research and development of a potential-first-in-class oral treatment that may slow disease progression,” said Priya Singhal, Interim Head of R&D at Biogen. “At Biogen, we aim to advance therapies that serve people with movement disorders, enabling them to have greater independence and quality of life.”
“By combining Alectos’ expertise in small-molecule therapeutics with Biogen’s global development expertise in Parkinson’s disease, we believe we will be well-positioned to help bring AL01811 to patients in need,” said Ernest McEachern, Ph.D., President and CEO at Alectos Therapeutics. “We’re also energized by the opportunity to tap into Biogen’s commercial acumen in order to advance the standard of care in Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders more broadly.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Biogen will make an upfront payment of $15 million to Alectos Therapeutics for an exclusive global license to AL01811 and additional unnamed backup molecules. In addition, Alectos is eligible to receive up to $77.5M in potential development payments and $630M in potential commercial payments should the collaboration achieve certain milestones. Alectos is also eligible to receive tiered royalties in the high-single-digits to mid-teens. Moving forward, both companies will collaborate on preclinical activities for AL01811 and, once AL01811 is advanced to the clinic, Biogen will assume sole responsibility for all development, regulatory, manufacturing, and commercial activities and costs.