AlzeCure Pharma stock shot up more than 301% on Tuesday after the Swedish biotech announced a major out-licensing deal with Eli Lilly for its Alzheimer’s drug candidate, Alzstatin ACD680.
AlzeCure Pharma AB (publ) (ALZCUR.ST)
The deal hands Eli Lilly global rights to ACD680, a compound currently in preclinical development. Total deal value, not counting royalties, could top $1 billion.
AlzeCure will receive a $10 million upfront payment. On top of that, the company is entitled to development and commercial milestone payments, plus tiered mid-single digit royalties on future sales.
Alzstatin ACD680 is a gamma-secretase modulator. In plain terms, it is designed to reduce production of a harmful protein called amyloid-beta 42, which builds up as plaques in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.
The compound is also designed to boost production of shorter, harmless amyloid proteins — Aβ37 and Aβ38 — which may help slow the buildup of the damaging variety.
Chief Scientific Officer Johan Sandin pointed out that the Alzstatin platform produces small-molecule drugs. That matters because small molecules are typically easier to manufacture and administer than larger biologic treatments.
Sandin also noted the mechanism has a strong genetic link to Alzheimer’s disease, which gives the science a firmer foundation.
The gamma-secretase modulator approach has had a rocky history in drug development, but the genetic rationale behind Alzstatin’s design sets it apart from earlier failed attempts.
Eli Lilly is already one of the most active players in the Alzheimer’s space. The company’s existing approved therapy Kisunla targets amyloid plaques, so adding a preclinical small-molecule candidate fits its broader strategy.
For AlzeCure, this is a validation of years of work on a platform that has been largely under the radar outside Sweden.
The deal still needs to clear regulatory hurdles. Swedish authorities must approve it under foreign direct investment rules before it can close.
AlzeCure trades on Nasdaq First North Premier Growth Market. Eli Lilly stock was up around 1.57% on the news.
The $10 million upfront payment gives AlzeCure immediate runway. Milestone payments tied to development and commercial progress could add considerably more over time if ACD680 advances through clinical trials.
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