Eisai Details Alzheimer’s Drug Pact with Biogen Idec

Eisai has provide further details of the options that it has as part of the agreement to jointly develop and commercialize its investigational Alzheimer’s disease (AD) treatment candidates E2609, a BACE inhibitor, and BAN2401, an anti-amyloid beta (Aβ) protofibril antibody, with Biogen Idec. The companies initially announced the agreement in March 2014.

Based on the collaboration agreement, Eisai will serve as the operational and regulatory lead in the co-development of E2609 and BAN2401 and will pursue marketing authorizations for both compounds worldwide. The companies will also co-promote the products following marketing approval in major markets such as the United States, the European Union, and Japan. Both companies will cover an equal share of the overall costs, including research and development expenses, with Eisai booking all sales for E2609 and BAN2401 and the profits to be split equally between the companies. As financial consideration of this collaboration agreement, Eisai has received payments upfront and will receive development, approval,and commercial milestone payments as well. For any regions outside the co-promotion territory, Eisai will exclusively commercialize the products and pay royalties to Biogen Idec.

With respect to the anti-amyloid beta antibody BIIB037 and an anti-tau monoclonal antibody being developed by Biogen Idec as anti-AD treatments, Eisai also holds options to jointly develop and commercialize these products. If Eisai exercises either or both of the options, separate collaboration agreements will be made with Biogen Idec on terms and conditions that mirror the company’s collaboration agreement with Eisai. In its statement, Eisai outlined these options for BIIB037 and the anti-tau antibody.

E2609, discovered in-house by Eisai, is an investigational next-generation oral candidate for the treatment of AD that is believed to inhibit BACE, a key enzyme in the production of Aβ . By inhibiting BACE, E2609 decreases Aβ proteins in the brain, potentially improving symptoms and slowing disease progression. Currently, E2609 is undergoing preparations to enter Phase II clinical trials.

BAN2401 is a humanized monoclonal antibody that is the result of a strategic research alliance between Eisai and BioArctic Neuroscience AB to identify a potential immunotherapy for AD. BAN2401 is believed to selectively bind to, neutralize and eliminate soluble, toxic Aβ aggregates that are thought to contribute to the neurodegenerative process in AD. As such, BAN2401 has the potential to have an immunomodulatory effect that may suppress the progression of the disease. Eisai obtained the global rights to study, develop, manufacture and market BAN2401 for the treatment of AD pursuant to an agreement concluded with BioArctic Neuroscience AB in December 2007. Currently, the compound is undergoing Phase II clinical trials.

BIIB037 is an anti-Aβ human monoclonal antibody that is currently under investigation by Biogen Idec as a treatment for AD under a collaboration agreement with Neurimmune AG. It is believed that BIIB037 binds to and eliminates the toxic amyloid plaques that form in the brains of patients with AD, thereby potentially suppressing the progression of the disease. BIIB037 is currently undergoing a Phase Ib clinical trial.

Source: Eisai

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