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Eisai invests in BioArctic's Alzheimer research

Japanese firm inputs world-leading know-how in next-generation treatment

07 Apr 2008 - Eisai Co. Ltd has signed an exclusive licence agreement with Uppsala-based biopharmaceutical company BioArctic Neuroscience for their monoclonal antibody BAN2401, developed as a next-generation treatment for Alzheimer's Disease. The amount invested in the joint R&D project has not been disclosed but is thought to be in the region of at least SEK200 million ($33.4 million).
 
This licence deal will safeguard BioArctic's existence and R&D activities for a number of years, according to BioArctic's CEO, Pär Gellerfors. The deal will also give BioArctic the possibility to develop their other projects quicker and more securely as it now employs people to run R&D in-house. The R&D expenditure and risk for this project will be shared between the two firms.
 
"We are very pleased with this collaboration with Eisai, which is the world-leading pharmaceutical company in Alzheimer's Disease research. Since we work with a totally new concept for the treatment of this severe disease, we want to have a strong and long-lasting relationship with a partner that is fully committed to take this exciting project all the way to the market," Gellerfors said.