Singapore: University College London (UCL) and Japanese pharmaceutical company Eisai, have entered into a new agreement to establish a Therapeutic Innovation Group (TIG) that will comprise researchers from both organisations working together to investigate radical new ways of treating neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other related disorders.

The goal of the collaboration will be to identify and validate novel drug targets, develop new therapeutics and evaluate them in proof-of-concept clinical trials. Research is expected to be carried out at UCL's new Leonard Wolfson Experimental Neurology Center, while Eisai will provide drug R&D resource and know-how, assay development capabilities and medicinal chemistry expertise. If successful, UCL will also receive milestone and royalty payments on therapies brought to market through the collaboration.

Dr Lynn Kramer, president, Eisai neuroscience product creation unit, said that, "In this unique collaboration, we hope our complementary expertise will identify potential new drug targets that we can bring to market and make available to patients that need it the most."

Professor Stephen Caddick, vice provost (enterprise) at UCL, said that, "UCL is committed to working with partners who have a shared vision to translate research findings into products which will have a tangible, positive impact on society. This strategic alliance between UCL and Eisai combines research excellence, clinical insight and commercial expertise which will undoubtedly improve prospects for development of new treatments for patient benefits."