BARCELONA, Spain & LAUSANNE, Switzerland - Thursday, 23. February 2023
- ASN90, an O-GlcNAcase inhibitor, is a new chemical entity at clinical stage and a promising candidate for the treatment of PSP, a disorder with a high unmet medical need
- PSP is a rare neurological condition that causes severe problems with walking, balance, speech, swallowing and vision. As the disease progresses, it causes severe disability within three to five years of onset1
- ASN90 in PSP is ready to start phase II of clinical development
(BUSINESS
WIRE)--Spanish pharmaceutical company Ferrer and Swiss clinical stage
biotechnology company Asceneuron announce the signing of a licensing
agreement in which Ferrer obtains the exclusive worldwide rights to
develop and commercialize ASN90 in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP),
an orphan, tau-related disease with a high unmet medical need1.
Both
Ferrer and Asceneuron are pleased that this announcement occurs in
close occurrence with Rare Disease Day (February 28). This agreement
underscores the commitments both companies have undertaken to improve
the lives of patients with a rare disease, such as PSP.
The terms
of the agreement include an upfront fee and multiple development,
regulatory and commercial milestone payments. Asceneuron is also
eligible to receive tiered double-digit royalties on worldwide net sales
of ASN90.
Mario Rovirosa, Ferrer’s Chief Executive Officer,
stated: “This is yet another meaningful example of how Ferrer moves
forward guided by its purpose of making a positive impact in society. As
a B Corp company, we are proud of our people’s commitment to delivering
the best possible solutions for those in need.”
Dirk Beher,
Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Asceneuron, commented: “This
licensing agreement with Ferrer is important news for patients suffering
from PSP and their families. Asceneuron, as a neurodegeneration-focused
company, will continue expanding the application of OGA mechanism in
other diseases in addition to developing further programs in some of the
largest unmet medical need indications in neurology.”
Oscar
Pérez, Chief Business Development and Global Alliances Officer at
Ferrer, added: “Researching a cure for such a devastating condition that
lacks available therapeutic options fits perfectly with Ferrer’s
mission to develop transformative treatments. We are seeking to generate
life-changing solutions for people with PSP. ASN90 is a very promising
addition to our growing portfolio in neurological disorders, making
Ferrer an increasingly relevant player in the field of neuroscience.”
Ferrer will now conduct a phase II clinical study to determine the efficacy and optimal dose range of ASN90.
SVB Securities acted as exclusive financial advisor to Asceneuron.
About progressive supranuclear palsy
PSP
is a rare neurological condition which typically presents at around 60
years of age and causes severe problems related to walking, balance,
speech, swallowing and vision as a result of the accumulation of
aggregates of the tau protein in the brain1,2. The disease gets
progressively worse, causing severe disability within three to five
years of onset. It is estimated that three to six people per 100,0001
will develop PSP and there is currently no known cure for the
disease1,2.
-----------------------------------------------------ENDS------------------------------------------------------
1.
Coughlin DG, Litvan I. Progressive supranuclear palsy: Advances in
diagnosis and management. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2020
Apr;73:105-116. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2020.04.014. Epub 2020 May 25.
2.
Lopez G, Bayulkem K, Hallett M. Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP):
Richardson syndrome and other PSP variants. Acta Neurol Scand. 2016
Oct;134(4):242-9. doi: 10.1111/ane.12546. Epub 2016 Jan 6.
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Contacts
For more information:
gortizdez@ferrer.com
+34 936 003 779