Acumen regains rights to Alzheimer's programme from Merck & Co
This article was originally published in Scrip
Merck & Co has terminated a 2003 agreement with Acumen Pharmaceuticals and returned rights to develop and commercialise its anti-amyloid-derived diffusible ligand (ADDL) antibody therapeutics and diagnostics for Alzheimer's disease.
According to the US preclinical biotech company, Merck made the decision to end the deal was based on "internal strategic priorities".
Under the terms of the original agreement, Merck had obtained an exclusive licence to research and develop antibody products, and an option to develop vaccine products and certain diagnostic rights. Merck later amended the collaboration agreement to include an exclusive licence grant to Merck the diagnostic related rights.
The goal of the 2003 deal was to develop and commercialise anti-ADDL antibody therapeutics. Acumen believes that it has the potential to develop "a best in class, disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer's disease".
Acumen says there is a large and growing body of literature which implicates ADDLs as a molecular cause of Alzheimer's disease. ADDLs are formed when the amyloid beta 1-42 peptide accumulates in the brain, and self assembles into clusters known as oligomers. (Acumen notes that, when discovered in 1996, the term 'amyloid' meant fibular plaques; thus the term 'ADDLs' was coined to make important distinctions from 'amyloid'.)
Founded in 1996, Acumen owns or has exclusive rights to key patents and related IP relating to amyloid beta soluble oligomers, also known as ADDLs
It is partnered with Merz for the development of certain small molecule therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease.
NeuroVentures LLC and the Biotechnology Value Fund have been investors in Acumen.