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AbbVie to Acquire Aliada Therapeutics for $1.4 Billion, Bolstering CNS Pipeline

• AbbVie is set to acquire Aliada Therapeutics for $1.4 billion, gaining access to novel blood-brain barrier (BBB) crossing technology for CNS therapies. • Aliada's lead asset, ALIA-1758, an anti-pyroglutamate amyloid beta antibody for Alzheimer's disease, is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials. • The acquisition strengthens AbbVie's neuroscience portfolio and enhances its R&D capabilities for developing next-generation neurological therapies. • Aliada's MODEL platform targets transferrin and CD98 receptors to deliver therapeutic antibodies and genetic medicines across the BBB.

AbbVie has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Aliada Therapeutics for $1.4 billion in cash, a strategic move to enhance its capabilities in developing therapies for central nervous system (CNS) disorders. The acquisition provides AbbVie with Aliada's innovative blood-brain barrier (BBB)-crossing technology and its lead investigational asset, ALIA-1758, a potential disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer's disease.

Strategic Rationale

Roopal Thakkar, M.D., executive vice president, research and development and chief scientific officer, AbbVie, emphasized the importance of neuroscience as a key growth area for the company. "This acquisition immediately positions us to advance ALIA-1758, a potentially best-in-class disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer's disease," said Thakkar. He also noted that Aliada's BBB-crossing technology would strengthen AbbVie's R&D capabilities, accelerating the development of next-generation therapies for neurological disorders.

ALIA-1758: A Novel Approach to Alzheimer's Treatment

ALIA-1758 is an anti-pyroglutamate amyloid beta (3pE-Aβ) antibody designed to degrade and eliminate amyloid beta plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. The investigational candidate is currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial (NCT06406348) to assess its safety and tolerability in healthy participants. The drug utilizes the transferrin receptor (TfR) to cross the BBB.

Aliada's MODEL Platform: Overcoming the BBB Challenge

Aliada's Modular Delivery (MODEL) platform is engineered for high-precision CNS drug delivery. This novel BBB-crossing technology targets transferrin and CD98 receptors (TfR and CD98), which are highly expressed in brain endothelial cells. By engineering optimized TfR or CD98 binders, the platform can deliver various biological cargoes into the brain, including therapeutic antibodies and genetic medicines like siRNA.
Michael Ryan, M.D., chief medical officer at Aliada Therapeutics, highlighted the significance of the MODEL platform. "Many promising CNS-targeted therapies fail to reach late-stage trials due to their inability to cross the blood-brain barrier. Our MODEL platform addresses this challenge directly, efficiently delivering targeted drugs and potentially transforming how we treat neurological diseases," said Ryan.

Transaction Details and Advisors

Under the agreement, AbbVie will acquire all outstanding Aliada equity for $1.4 billion in cash, subject to customary adjustments. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2024, pending regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Covington & Burling LLP served as AbbVie's legal advisor, while Centerview Partners LLC was Aliada's exclusive financial advisor, and Fenwick & West LLP served as its legal advisor.
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Reference News

[1]
AbbVie to acquire biotechnology company, Aliada Therapeutics for $1.4 billion - Pharmabiz
pharmabiz.com · Oct 30, 2024

AbbVie to acquire Aliada Therapeutics for $1.4 billion, advancing ALIA-1758, an anti-pyroglutamate amyloid beta antibody...

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