This collaboration combines Alectos’ expertise in small-molecule therapeutics with Biogen’s development capabilities in movement disorders.
EDMONTON, June 14, 2022 – GlycoNet, one of the world’s leaders in glycomics – the study of carbohydrates in all living organisms– is pleased to announce that their partner company, Alectos Therapeutics has entered into a $700 million licensing and collaboration agreement with Biogen. This partnership will advance research critical to improving the quality of life for patients with Parkinson’s disease. Affecting 1 in 500 Canadians, Parkinson’s is the fastest-growing neurological disease in the world and a leading cause of disability1.
This recently announced partnership2 aims to develop and commercialize a novel preclinical selective GBA2 inhibitor, AL01811, which has first-in-class potential as an oral medicine to prevent the progression of Parkinson’s. This collaboration combines Alectos’ expertise in small-molecule therapeutics with Biogen’s development capabilities in movement disorders.
Alectos’ primary focus has been in the space of glycomics, small molecule inhibitors directed towards carbohydrate processing enzymes for neurodegenerative diseases, and neuroscience which has allowed the development of novel therapeutic strategies to address these diseases.
“We’ve been strong supporters of GlycoNet for a number of years. The productive and effective collaboration between GlycoNet researchers and industry, of which we are a part of, is really an important cornerstone of drug discovery and the Canadian healthcare ecosystem,” says Ernest McEachern, Ph.D., President and CEO, Alectos. “There are many glycomics discoveries that lead to important healthcare breakthroughs which originate in academic labs and through academic collaborations thanks to the grant funding and support of GlycoNet.”
“The $700M partnership between Alectos and Biogen for the development of a new drug for Parkinson’s is another example of the tremendous and proven health and economic impact of glycomics research and innovation in Canada,” says Elizabeth Nanak, CEO, GlycoNet.
Glycomics offers unique and progressive ways to monitor and modulate biological processes in all living organisms. This largely untapped scientific potential is at the centre of a new surge of development, with breakthrough discoveries helping to treat some of the world’s most common and rare diseases, including Parkinson’s.
About Alectos Therapeutics
Alectos Therapeutics is a leader in the discovery and preclinical development of novel small-molecule therapeutics to treat neurological diseases. Alectos focuses on identifying and developing innovative disease modifying strategies to address complex neurological conditions for which there are no effective treatments, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Alectos plans to leverage its Biogen partnership to advance its pipeline of preclinical glycomics assets, including O-GlcNAcase inhibitors for dementia and ischemic stroke. For more information, please visit www.alectos.com and follow Alectos on social media-Twitter, LinkedIn.
About GlycoNet
GlycoNet is advancing research, innovation and training in glycomics to improve the quality of life of Canadians. GlycoNet is a one-stop global destination focused on developing new carbohydrate-based drugs, vaccines and diagnostics, in collaboration with academic and industry organizations to address areas of unmet need through applied glycomics research. Funded by the federal Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) program and a range of partners, the network includes over 180 researchers across Canada who focus on cancer, chronic diseases, infectious diseases and neurodegenerative diseases. This national platform supports translational research, protection of intellectual property, novel drug development, company formation and training. Learn more about us at glyconet.ca.
More information on the potential of Canadian glycomics can be found at: https://canadianglycomics.ca/op-ed-glycomics-are-the-new-frontier-in-bioinnovation/
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