Alectos Therapeutics, Merck Collaborate on Alzheimer’s Drug

Alectos Therapeutics Inc. in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada will collaborate with global pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. to identify and develop compounds that modulate O-linked N-acetylglucosaminidase (O-GlcNAcase) an enzyme believed to be involved in the development of Alzheimer’s disease and other disorders. The agreement provides Merck with a worldwide, exclusive license to research, develop, and commercialize compounds that modulate this target.

Under the agreement, Merck has paid Alectos for and will fund further research into Alectos’ existing portfolio of compounds targeting Alzheimer’s disease. Alectos is eligible for up to US $289 million in fees, research, development, and regulatory milestones and tiered royalty payments on sales of any products resulting from this collaboration.

Alectos and Merck will collaborate on drug discovery and preclinical development. Merck will handle clinical development and have worldwide marketing and commercialization rights to any resulting products.

Alectos Therapeutics is a spin-off biotechnology company from Simon Fraser University that develops small-molecule drugs for serious and life-threatening human diseases.