Date: 2014-10-29
Type of information: Product acquisition
Compound: NS2359 and NS2330 (tesofensine)
Company: NeuroSearch (Denmark) Saniona (Sweden)
Therapeutic area: Metabolic diseases
Type agreement: product acquisition
Action mechanism: Tesofensine, a monoamine uptake inhibitor, is focused on obesity. Tesofensine has been evaluated in Phase 1 and Phase 2 human clinical studies with the aim of investigating treatment potential with regards to obesity, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Tesofensine demonstrated strong weight reducing effects in Phase 2 clinical studies in obese patients. In general, tesofensine was well tolerated in humans. However, blood pressure and heart rate increased at therapeutic doses of tesofensine. A recent patent application covering the combination of tesofensine and metoprolol has been filed. The patent claims are based on the demonstration in preclinical studies that the robust weight reduction seen with tesofensine is maintained when co-treatment with a beta-blocker was used to eliminate heart rate and blood pressure increase by tesofensine.
Disease: obesity
Details: * On October 29, 2014, NeuroSearch has signed an agreement with Saniona for the transfer of its rights to the development candidates NS2359 and NS2330 (tesofensine).NeuroSearch has for several years worked to raise capital for the further development of these two development candidates, or as an alternative to enter into agreements with third parties for the further development of the projects. None of these have led to any result and therefore it has now been decided to transfer the rights to NS2359 and NS2330 to Saniona. Saniona has acquired all rights including patents and data to the clinical development compound, tesofensine, as well as other compounds from the same patent family including NS2359. The parties will share profits on future upsides. Tesofensine has demonstrated strong weight reducing effects in Phase 2 clinical studies in obese patients. Saniona intends to find partners for funding of further development. The agreement does not trigger any up-front payment
Financial terms: Under the agreement, Saniona assumes the costs of maintaining the partially intertwined patent rights to NS2359 and NS2330. NeuroSearch will not receive any cash or any other consideration in connection with the signing of the agreement, but under the agreement with Saniona, NeuroSearch is entitled to up to 20% of any milestones and royalties that Saniona may obtain in connection with the further development of NS2359 and NS2330 as well as of any potential drugs based on NS2359 or NS2330 that may reach the market.
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