New cooperation

15.01.2010 10:26

Merz and Acumen decide on a development partnership for an innovative Alzheimer's drug

Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH has licensed a highly innovative technology developed by the Californian company Acumen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for use in Alzheimer's research. The agreement grants Merz exclusive worldwide rights to develop, produce and market an anti-dementia drug based on Acumen technology. In return, Acumen receives payments upon signing the contract and depending on the achievement of defined development milestones and sales of the future drug.
The licensing partnership builds on Acumen's pioneering work on the toxic form of the protein ß-amyloid, which occurs at a very early stage of Alzheimer's dementia. In the search for a drug that intervenes early in the course of the disease and treats not only the symptoms but also the molecular pathological cause of Alzheimer's disease, the technology is therefore considered to have great therapeutic potential.
“It is our declared goal to develop novel therapeutic options for the high medical need in the area of neurodegenerative diseases,” emphasizes Dr. Martin Zügel, CEO of Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH and spokesman for the Merz Management Board. “We consider the cooperation with Acumen to be extremely important in order to achieve a breakthrough in our search for an effective, causal agent for the treatment of Alzheimer's dementia.” With Memantine, Merz has the world's first active ingredient for the treatment of moderate to severe stages Alzheimer's disease developed. Memantine is the second most sold anti-dementia drug worldwide. 
Dr. William Goure, President and CEO of Acumen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., added: “Our partnership with Merz Pharmaceuticals is an important step in advancing our knowledge of the toxic form of ß-amyloid and in offering new therapies to those suffering from it “We suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and have so far only been able to rely on medications that have a symptomatic effect.” 
Alzheimer's dementia is a chronic neurodegenerative disease. In its early stages, it impairs cognitive functions, for example through loss of memory, language impairment, impaired processing of visual impressions, delusions and loss of decision-making ability. As the disease progresses, more basic cognitive abilities and everyday skills become increasingly limited.
Alzheimer's dementia also represents an ever greater challenge for health systems worldwide. Based on demographic developments, the American Alzheimer's Association estimates that 35.6 million people will already have to live with dementia in 2010. This number will roughly double every 20 years, so that by 2030 around 65.7 million people will be affected worldwide and by 2050 well over 100 million people will be affected.