Neurimmune and TVM Capital Life Science create AL-S Pharma
New company will develop, to proof-of-concept, AP-101, a human monoclonal antibody targeting misfolded SOD1 for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Neurimmune and TVM Capital Life Science’s latest fund, TVM Life Science Ventures VII, have invested in AL-S Pharma, a company based in Schlieren/Zurich, Switzerland. AL-S Pharma will develop, to proof-of-concept, AP-101, a human monoclonal antibody targeting misfolded SOD1 for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) that was generated and pre-clinically validated by Neurimmune’s Reverse Translational Medicine platform. To date, no disease-modifying treatment is available for ALS.
“We are very excited to see another monoclonal antibody developed through our Reverse Translational Medicine platform moving towards clinical development,” says Jan Grimm, CSO of Neurimmune and Member of the Board of AL-S Pharma. “ALS is a terrible disease, and we believe that AP-101 has the potential to provide therapeutic benefit to the patients suffering from it.”
TVM Capital Life Science and AL-S Pharma have the option to engage with Chorus, an autonomous unit of Eli Lilly, to execute an efficient and cost-effective clinical plan. AL-S Pharma will also leverage its extensive product development expertise to potentially bring AP-101 to human proof-of-concept and aims to initiate the first human dose study in ALS patients in 2018 in collaboration with an international network of ALS clinics.
“The management team of AL-S Pharma is excited to collaborate with Chorus and TVM Capital Life Science, the advisor to the investing fund, to develop this promising drug candidate to clinical proof-of-concept,” said Michael Salzmann, PhD, COO of Neurimmune and AL-S Pharma’s CEO.
TVM Life Science Ventures VII, a venture capital fund domiciled in Munich, Germany and Montréal, Canada is a unique arrangement between TVM Capital Life Science and numerous limited partners, including Lilly. The fund follows a capital-efficient investment approach to finance and access innovation while managing risk and sharing reward. “TVM Capital Life Science is proud to have catalyzed the creation of AL-S Pharma AG in Switzerland and to have secured the rights to a compound that represents a new and innovative approach to neurodegeneration and ALS. This transaction is another demonstration of the benefits of our investment model in Europe, and the extent of our network,” said Hubert Birner, PhD, Managing Partner with TVM Capital Life Science and Chairman of the Board of AL-S Pharma. “We are pleased to collaborate with Michael Salzmann and Dirk Schimkat, who will act as CEO and CFO respectively for AL-S Pharma bringing continuity from Neurimmune.”
“Neurodegeneration is a core therapeutic area where Lilly is committed to identifying, accessing and shaping innovation for patients who are waiting,” said Christer Nordstedt, Lilly's vice president of neuroscience research and clinical development. “Working as a limited partner with TVM Capital Life Science is an important part of our risk-sharing strategy to complement the molecules we’re evaluating in our labs with the best discoveries from outside the company.”
Related News
-
News Eli Lilly gets ready to launch five new drugs in 2023
Eli Lilly, the American pharmaceutical company (IN, USA) are gearing up for a big year ahead, with hopes to launch five new drugs and capitalise on growing obesity and Alzheimer’s disease markets. -
News Amgen buys Horizon for $27.8 billion in bold step into the rare disease market
Amgen Inc buys pharmaceutical company Horizon Therapeutics in a multibillion-dollar deal, in hopes to capitalise on it's portfolio of drugs in the highly sort after rare disease market. -
News Pharma Supply Chain People Moves
The latest appointments and promotions across the pharmaceutical supply chain. -
News Merck to donate new Ebola vaccine to defend against outbreaks in Uganda
Pharmaceutical giant Merck has announced they will be speeding up the processing of a new vaccine against the latest strain of the Ebola virus, to be donated to a global non-profit organisation for distribution -
News CPHI Podcast Series: Driving innovation with pharmaceutical startups
The latest episode in the CPHI Podcast Series explores how startups are driving innovation by taking high-risk approaches and doing business with greater agility. -
News Greener and efficient processes: Quaternary Ammonium Salts
Quaternary Ammonium Salts play a crucial part in Organic Chemistry processes at many major industries. Discover why.
-
News Biosimilars save patients $11B annually, but barriers to adoption remain in US market
Biosimilars introduce competition into the biologics market, driving down prices and increasing patient access. -
News WHO recommends use of two monoclonal antibody treatments against Ebola
The health body recommended use of treatments by Regeneron and Ridgeback Bio
Position your company at the heart of the global Pharma industry with a CPHI Online membership
-
Your products and solutions visible to thousands of visitors within the largest Pharma marketplace
-
Generate high-quality, engaged leads for your business, all year round
-
Promote your business as the industry’s thought-leader by hosting your reports, brochures and videos within your profile
-
Your company’s profile boosted at all participating CPHI events
-
An easy-to-use platform with a detailed dashboard showing your leads and performance