Date: 2011-06-13
Type of information: Development agreement
Compound: two pre-clinical programs including KU-046, a first-in-class new chemical entity discovered by Kareus for the treatment of Alzheimer\'s disease
Company: Kareus Therapeutics (Switzerland) Quintiles (USA)
Therapeutic area: Neurodegenerative diseases - Metabolic diseases
Type agreement: development
Action mechanism:
Disease: Alzheimer's disease - type 2 diabetes
Details: Kareus Therapeutics has announced a broad strategic alliance with Quintiles to progress the development of two of Kareus\' pre-clinical programs through clinical trials. Under the terms of the alliance, Quintiles will make an investment in Kareus in the USD$ seven figure range, apportioned between an equity investment and access to clinical service on a shared-risk basis.
Following the investment by Quintiles, Kareus plans to submit an investigational new drug (IND) application for KU-046, a first-in-class new chemical entity discovered by Kareus for the treatment of Alzheimer\'s disease. Kareus has also identified a lead series of molecules demonstrating potent, long-lasting insulin sensitisation with a broad therapeutic window for the treatment of Type-2 diabetes and will select a clinical candidate for development later in 2011. Quintiles will conduct Phase I proof-of-relevance clinical trials for both KU-046 and the chosen diabetes candidate.
Kareus has developed a pipeline of novel molecules targeting diseases of the central nervous system based on its proprietary KARLECT chemistry and drug discovery platform which targets molecular and gene expression pathways. KU-046, discovered using the KARLECT platform, targets pathways upstream from the increased abeta peptide production found in Alzheimer\'s disease and has demonstrated significant improvement in cognition in a number of pre-clinical models. Kareus will also seek to develop novel small molecule candidates in metabolic diseases, including diabetes, and inflammation. In addition, the leadership team of Kareus has an extensive background in cardiovascular disease and has applied this know-how to the development of 505(b)(2) filings for lipid lowering and cardiovascular disease.
Financial terms: Under the terms of the alliance, Quintiles will make an investment in Kareus in the USD$ seven figure range, apportioned between an equity investment and access to clinical service on a shared-risk basis.
Latest news:
