Modifying Parkinson's

Most drugs for Parkinson's disease target dopamine, which provides short-term, palliative treatment but is accompanied by neurological side effects and eventually loses efficacy as patients develop tolerance. Addex Pharmaceuticals S.A. believes its allosteric modulators of metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 4, which act independently of dopaminergic neurons, may provide physicians with a disease-modifying therapeutic option.

Last week, Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK, Whitehouse Station, N.J.) in-licensed Addex's preclinical positive allosteric modulators of mGluR4 to treat PD and other undisclosed indications. The deal gives Addex (SWX:ADXN, Geneva, Switzerland) $3 million up front, up to $167.5 million in milestones, royalties and the opportunity to establish a sales force...