Eisai and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have entered into a comprehensive research collaboration agreement aiming to create potential novel treatments for neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD).

The two organisations have been collaborating in AD research. The Phase II/III Tau NexGen Study conducted by the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network Trials Unit (DIAN-TU), led by the US-based University’s School of Medicine, is exploring the safety, tolerability, biomarkers and cognitive efficacy of Eisai's anti-MTBR (microtubule binding region) tau antibody E2814 for the treatment of dominantly inherited Alzheimer's disease (DIAD). In this study, the anti-amyloid beta (Aβ) protofibril antibody lecanemab (generic name, development code: BAN2401) was selected as the background anti-amyloid agent.

The collaboration strategically combines Washington University scientists’ expertise in the fundamental and clinical research in neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia, with Japanese pharmaceutical firm Eisai’s extensive experience in drug discovery and development.

Using human biology, the aim is to create multiple novel therapeutic candidates as well as discover and identify biomarkers within the next five years. Eisai will have the option rights to develop and commercialise any compounds and biomarkers that meet certain criteria in terms of research and development milestones.