Aggregating in AD

Aiming to sharpen its focus on the neurovascular space, Athenagen Inc. has already done one acquisition this year and plans to out-license a non-core program. On Monday this week, the company planned to announce another deal: a merger with Zapaq Inc. that will bring a preclinical beta secretase inhibitor program for Alzheimer's disease that should be ready to enter the clinic next year.

Athenagen (South San Francisco, Calif.) is developing CNS therapeutics targeting nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), which have been shown to be important to memory and cognition. Its recent acquisition of Osprey Pharmaceutical Co. for undisclosed terms provided complementary nAChR programs that add to Athenagen's growing collection of potential AD therapeutics. ...