TMEM-175

AbbVie will leverage its disease biology, clinical development and global commercialisation expertise. Credit: AbbVie Inc. AbbVie has signed an exclusive, collaboration and option agreement for the development and commercialisation of Caraway Therapeutics’ small molecule candidates to treat Parkinson’s disease and other related conditions. The deal covers Caraway’s therapeutics that target TMEM175, a potassium ion channel required for lysosomal function associated with Parkinson’s as well as additional neurodegenerative diseases. Mutations that cause loss of function in TMEM175 are known to decrease lysosomal efficiency in a subpopulation of Parkinson’s patients. These mutations can occur at an earlier age of disease onset or higher dementia risk compared with idiopathic Parkinson’s. According to the collaboration agreement, Caraway will continue to work on its small molecule modulators of TMEM175. The company will use its drug discovery platform and lysosomal biology and cellular clearance mechanisms expertise. AbbVie will contribute to the partnership via its disease biology, clinical development and global commercialisation capabilities. AbbVie Neuroscience Discovery vice-president Eric Karran said: “TMEM175 is a compelling genetically validated target for which Caraway has developed a promising drug discovery programme. “Collaborating with Caraway to advance TMEM175 modulators has great potential to fit with AbbVie’s efforts to develop transformative treatments for patients with neurodegenerative diseases.” In connection with the deal, AbbVie will make a $17m upfront cash payment to Caraway. AbbVie also has an option to licence the programme and carry out the investigational new drug (IND)-enabling studies, clinical development and commercialisation after Caraway finishes some pre-clinical research and development activities. Caraway may get up to $267m in upfront and future option payments and development milestones. It is also eligible for other regulatory and commercial milestones and royalties on worldwide sales. The company holds the option to join in product development in exchange for higher royalty rates. Caraway Therapeutics CEO Martin Williams said: “We are looking forward to collaborating with AbbVie to develop novel TMEM175 modulators and bring new hope to patients suffering from Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative disorders.” In February, AbbVie signed a collaboration and licensing agreement with Caribou Biosciences for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapeutics.

Caraway Therapeutics and AbbVie have entered into a collaboration agreement to develop and commercialize a small molecule targeting a potassium ion channel involved in Parkinson's disease (PD) and other neurodegenerative conditions. The target, TMEM175, has shown solid genetic support in these conditions, making it a compelling area of further research and development. Previous data show, for instance, that loss-of-function mutations in TMEM175 correlate with reduced efficiency of lysosomal function in certain patients with PD. Chief Executive Officer of Caraway Therapeutics, Martin D. Williams, noted in a statement that TMEM175 variants “that reduce lysosomal function are highly prevalent genetic risk factors for the development of PD and evidence suggests that patients with reduced TMEM175 function tend to have earlier age of disease onset and increased risk of dementia.” Caraway, a portfolio company of AbbVie Ventures, plans to continue advancing its proprietary small molecule modulators for the target under the new collaboration. The company will use its drug discovery platform and draw on its expertise in lysosomal biology and cellular clearance mechanisms. In concert, AbbVie will lend its expertise in disease biology, clinical development, and worldwide commercialization. “TMEM175 is a compelling genetically validated target for which Caraway has developed a promising drug discovery program,” said AbbVie’s Vice President of Neuroscience Discovery, Eric Karran, Ph.D., in a statement. “Collaborating with Caraway to advance TMEM175 modulators has great potential to fit with AbbVie’s efforts to develop transformative treatments for patients with neurodegenerative diseases.” The terms of the agreement give Caraway a $17 million upfront cash payment from AbbVie. Upon completion of certain pre-clinical research and development activities on behalf of Caraway, AbbVie will have the option to license the program and advance it into Investigational New Drug-enabling studies, clinical development as well as commercialization. In total, the collaboration makes Caraway qualified for up to $267 million in payments, comprising both upfront and future option payments as well as developmental milestones. Additionally, the company is also eligible for additional regulatory and commercial milestones and tiered royalties on worldwide sales. Caraway Has also been given the option to participate in product development in exchange for increased rates on future royalties. Earlier this year, AbbVie also announced a collaboration with Caribou Biosciences worth $40 million in upfront cash and equity payments to develop chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapeutics. Under terms of that collaboration, AbbVie agreed to provide an additional $300 million in potential milestone payments. Caribou has been granted the reasonability for the preclinical research, development as well as initial manufacturing of a total of two off-the-shelf CAR T cell therapies. In turn, AbbVie will reimburse the pharmaceutical company for the costs of this R&D and manufacturing. AbbVie continued its collaboration streak with its contribution of $90 million in up front and equity investment capital to support recently launched Capsida Biotherapeutics. Capsida focuses on next-generation gene therapies and plans to use the AbbVie capital to develop tissue-targeted gene therapies for up to three central nervous system disease targets. The company also launched with an additional $50 million in Series A financing from Versant Ventures and Westlake Village BioPartners. Featured Jobs on BioSpace