Muna and GSK Join Forces to Accelerate Alzheimer’s Treatments

Muna Therapeutics has formed a research collaboration with GSK aimed at accelerating the development of treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. This alliance intends to use Muna’s MiND-MAP platform, which employs spatial transcriptomics to analyze brain samples from various cohorts, including those affected by Alzheimer’s and individuals with cognitive resilience.

The collaboration will leverage Muna’s expertise in understanding the brain's response to pathological protein aggregates. GSK is providing an initial payment of €33.5 million ($35.2 million) to Muna, with the possibility of milestone payments up to €140 million ($147.1 million) per target, along with tiered royalties based on the net sales of any resulting products.

The joint initiative involves examining postmortem human brain samples to identify potential new drug targets. These targets will be validated using Muna’s advanced humanized cell and animal models, supplemented by insights from patient tissue and biofluid samples. Muna will handle the identification and validation of these targets, while GSK will be responsible for the subsequent stages of drug development, including preclinical and clinical development, manufacturing, and commercialization.

Rita Balice-Gordon, CEO of Muna Therapeutics, described the agreement as a significant milestone for both Muna and Alzheimer’s research overall. She emphasized that the collaboration merges GSK’s dedication to innovative science with Muna’s MiND-MAP platform’s capacity to provide new insights into brain resilience. This partnership aims to revolutionize the drug discovery process for neurodegenerative diseases, aiming to bring new hope to millions of patients around the world.

Muna’s MiND-MAP platform is noted for its extensive and detailed dataset, which is anticipated to drive the identification and development of novel therapies for Alzheimer’s. This dataset will be further expanded and refined as part of the collaboration.

Kaivan Khavandi, GSK’s global head of respiratory and immunology research and senior vice president, highlighted the value of the MiND-MAP platform. He noted that by applying spatial multi-omics to unique patient phenotypes, the platform can uncover the genetic and cellular foundations of disease progression and resilience in neurodegenerative disorders.

In summary, the partnership between Muna Therapeutics and GSK is poised to advance the search for effective Alzheimer’s treatments by combining Muna’s innovative platform and expertise with GSK’s resources and commitment to cutting-edge science. This collaboration seeks to pave the way for new therapeutic options that could significantly impact the lives of those affected by Alzheimer’s disease.