Proteostasis Therapeutics and Biogen Idec have collaborated to research and develop new therapies based on the inhibition of Usp14, a deubiquitinating enzyme, for the treatment of certain neurodegenerative disorders.
Under the deal, Proteostasis will receive an initial upfront payment from Biogen, along with an equity investment.
Proteostasis is also eligible for research funding support and future development and commercial milestones that could result in total payments of about $200m, as well as tiered royalties.
Both the firms will jointly carry out preclinical research to identify lead compounds for clinical development and at specified points in development under the deal, while Proteostasis will have the option to secure potential milestones or opt in for global co-development and US co-commercialization rights.
Proteostasis Therapeutics senior vice president and head of Research Markus Haeberlein said, "We look forward to advancing our disease-modifying approach to develop therapeutic candidates that can address several protein aggregation disorders, including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease."
Preclinical research has demonstrated that the inhibition of Usp14 modulates proteasome activity and increases the degradation rate of aggregation-prone proteins, including a-synuclein in Parkinson's disease and tau in Alzheimer's disease.
As part of the deal, the new Usp14 inhibitors will be developed as a disease-modifying approach for a range of disorders involving toxic protein aggregation.
The deal combines Proteostasis Therapeutics' proprietary scientific platform and preclinical work on protein degradation with Biogen Idec's neurodegenerative disease research and clinical development capabilities.
Both the firms will jointly carry out preclinical research to identify lead compounds for clinical development and at specified points in development under the deal, while Proteostasis will have the option to secure potential milestones or opt in for global co-development and US co-commercialization rights.
Harvard professors Daniel Finley and Randall King, who are both on Proteostasis' scientific advisory board are responsible for the development of the Usp14 technology.
