H. Lundbeck and Contera Pharma have entered into a strategic research collaboration to accelerate the discovery and development of oligonucleotide-based therapies for serious neurological disorders. The partnership focuses on investigating RNA-targeting treatment strategies for neurological conditions that currently present significant unmet medical needs.
Leveraging Complementary Expertise
The collaboration brings together Lundbeck's extensive experience of more than 70 years in neurosciences with Contera Pharma's specialized expertise in oligonucleotides and RNA discovery platforms. Contera's technological arsenal includes SpliceMatrix, AttackPoint discovery, and OligoDisc platforms, which will be utilized to optimize and identify therapies aimed at molecular targets with the potential to alter disease progression.
"Early research partnering is a cornerstone of our strategy to systematically build a highly networked ecosystem of leading neuroscience and technology innovators," stated Klaus Simonsen, vice-president and external research and innovation head at Lundbeck. "By embracing RNA therapeutics through our collaboration with Contera, we are strengthening our pipeline and ensuring that we remain at the cutting edge of scientific progress in brain health."
Oligonucleotide Technology Focus
Oligonucleotides are short DNA or RNA molecules designed to target specific genetic sequences, offering potential precision in treating diseases at the molecular level. This collaboration will focus on utilizing these molecules to develop treatments for neurological conditions, leveraging the ability of RNA-targeting approaches to significantly enhance Lundbeck's research pipeline for developing therapies to treat neurodegenerative diseases.
Commercial Structure and Financial Terms
Under the partnership agreement, Lundbeck holds the option for global commercialization and will advance promising candidates into clinical development at later stages. The financial structure includes multiple components: Contera Pharma will be eligible for an upfront payment along with comprehensive research funding for each target. Additionally, the company will receive milestone payments related to commercial, clinical, pre-clinical, and regulatory achievements, plus tiered royalties on future net sales.
Strategic Pipeline Enhancement
The partnership represents part of Lundbeck's broader strategy to enhance its pipeline through external collaborations with scientific innovators. By targeting RNA, the collaboration aims to address neurological disorders through innovative molecular approaches that could potentially transform treatment options for patients with conditions affecting the nervous system.
While specific details regarding targeted disorders or development timelines were not disclosed, the partnership positions both companies to explore innovative approaches in addressing conditions that affect the nervous system, leveraging recent advancements in oligonucleotide technology.
