Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Pharmaceuticals
March 26, 2013

Lundbeck and Otsuka Further Expand Alliance and Enter Into Collaboration For the Development and Commercialization of Lu AE58054 In Development For Alzheimer's Disease

  • Clinical phase II data will be presented at the AAIC in Boston in July
  • A phase III program of more than 2,500 patients will commence during 2013
  • Lundbeck receives from Otsuka USD 150 million upon signing of the deal
  • Within the two companies' global agreement this is the first of the projects that will ultimately involve co-development and co-promotion of three Lundbeck drug candidates

H. Lundbeck A/S (Lundbeck) and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Otsuka) today announced a license and development agreement for Lu AE58054, a selective 5HT6 receptor antagonist currently in development for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Under the terms of the agreement, Lundbeck will grant Otsuka co-development and co-commercialization rights to Lu AE58054 in the U.S., Canada, East Asia including Japan, major European countries and Nordic countries.

Under the terms of the agreement, Lundbeck will receive from Otsuka an initial payment of USD 150 million (approximately DKK 855 million) upon signing. Both companies will share the sales, development, and commercialization costs based on the agreement. Lundbeck is also entitled to up to USD 675 million (approximately DKK 3.9 billion) in regulatory and sales milestones. Additional specific financial terms of the agreement remain undisclosed.

Taro Iwamoto, President and Representative Director of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., noted with respect to Lu AE58054 "The global collaboration between Otsuka and Lundbeck continues to grow stronger with the addition of Lu AE58054. Not only does the product further enhance the synergy between the companies as we work together to bring to the market solutions for better health, Lu AE58054 is a potentially promising development in a very difficult disease area."

Ulf Wiinberg, President & Chief Executive Officer of Lundbeck commented "There is a serious, global, unmet medical need regarding treatments for Alzheimer's disease in aging populations. Together, Otsuka and Lundbeck with their development capabilities, commercial experience and geographical reach will provide a solid foundation in the development of Lu AE58054."

The pivotal clinical program with Lu AE58054 is planned to be initiated later in 2013. The global program will consist of several studies and include more than 2,500 patients. The first phase III study will enroll patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease. Lu AE58054 will be tested as adjunct treatment to donepezil. Subsequent studies are expected to be initiated towards the end of 2013.

In May 2012, it was announced that Lu AE58054 had met its primary endpoint in a fixed dose, randomized, placebo-controlled, 24-week clinical study in 278 patients. The study was conducted in patients suffering from moderate Alzheimer's disease, with Lu AE58054 administered as an add-on to donepezil, a commonly used acetylcholinesterase inhibitor . The clinical data from the phase II study is planned to be presented at the annual Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) in Boston on 13-18 July 2013.

About Lu AE58054*i

Lu AE58054 is a selective 5-HT6-receptor antagonist. The 5-HT6-receptor is primarily found in areas of the brain involved in cognition. A number of early trials have demonstrated that a 5-HT6-receptor antagonist could offer potential benefits in the treatment of disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and in December 2009 Lundbeck initiated the above described 24 week clinical phase II trial with Lu AE58054 as augmentation therapy in Alzheimer's disease.

About Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder, in which the brain gradually degenerates. It most frequently occurs in people aged above 65--70 years. People with Alzheimer's disease develop distressing changes in memory, thought, function and behavior, which worsen over time. These changes increasingly impact upon the person's daily life, reducing their independence, until ultimately they are entirely dependent on others.

Alzheimer's disease also has an enormous impact on the patient's caregiver. Most caregivers are close relatives who provide care in the home -- a demanding and exhausting role that represents an emotional and physical burden*ii.

Alzheimer's disease is associated with damages and death of brain cells, leading to significant brain shrinkage and neurotransmitter imbalances. As the brain cells degenerate, characteristic waste accumulates in the brain, known as 'plaques' and 'tangles'.

Worldwide, 36 million people have dementia. Perhaps as many as 28 million of the world's 36 million people with dementia have yet to receive a diagnosis and, therefore, do not have access to treatment, information and care. Every year, an estimated 4.6 million new cases are identified*iii. With the shift towards an increasingly elderly population, it is predicted that the number of people affected by dementia will almost double every 20 years, and by the year 2050, 115 million people will have the condition*iv.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 50--70% of cases*v.

The worldwide costs of dementia (USD 604 billion in 2010) amount to more than 1% of gross domestic product (GDP).

  • *i:H. Lundbeck A/S. (May 2012). Lundbeck's Lu AE58054 meets primary endpoint in large placebo-controlled clinical proof of concept study in people with Alzheimer's disease [press release]. Available at http://investor.lundbeck.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=677436
  • *ii:Georges J, Jansen S, Jackson J, et al. Alzheimer's disease in real life -- the dementia carer's survey. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2008; 23 (5): 546--551.
  • *iii:Ferri CP, Prince M, Brayne C, et al. Global prevalence of dementia: a Delphi consensus study. Lancet 2005; 366 (9503): 2112--2117.
  • *iv:Alzheimer Disease International. World Alzheimer Report 2011. The benefits of early diagnosis and intervention. Published by Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI), September 2011.
  • *v:Alzheimer's Association. Basics of Alzheimer's disease: what it is and what you can do. 2010. http://www.alz.org/national/documents/brochure_basicsofalz_low.pdf. Accessed 30/09/11.