The α-synuclein pipeline as Novartis, UCB enter deal

Novartis is paying UCB $150 million up front for rights to the most advanced oral therapy targeting α-synuclein to treat Parkinson’s disease, competing in a crowded field that also includes antibodies and other modalities.

Thursday’s deal gives Novartis AG (SIX:NOVN; NYSE:NVS) co-development and co-commercialization rights to UCB0599, a small molecule against α-synuclein that is in Phase II testing for Parkinson’s. Novartis may also opt to co-develop UCB7853, a mAb against the same target from UCB S.A. (Euronext:UCB), after the completion of a Phase I study that is already in progress...