Lundbeck and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co have expanded their collaboration to include the development of an investigational vaccine against Alzheimer’s disease.
Lu AF20513 is an active anti-beta-amyloid vaccine which currently is in preclinical development and is based on the hypothesis that cognitive function would be preserved through the early inhibition of amyloid beta depositions. Lundbeck will receive an initial payment of 4 million euros from Otsuka and finance the Phase I study will be initiated during 2014.
Lu AF20513 is the third Alzheimer’s project from the two companies. The others are Lu AE58054, a 5HT6 receptor antagonist for adjunctive treatment with Eisai’s now off-patent Aricept (donepezil) and brexpiprazole, an investigational agent with high affinity to multiple serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine receptors for the treatment of agitation in patients with Alzheimer’s. Both projects are currently in Phase III.
