ALS TDI, Biogen Idec and UCB enter agreement to study anti-CD40L antibody for ALS

The ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) today announced a research agreement with Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) and UCB Pharma SA (EN Brussels: UCB) to investigate the use of an anti-CD40L antibody as a potential therapy for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's or Motor Neuron Disease. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Under the terms of a collaboration between Biogen Idec and UCB, UCB is currently developing an anti-CD40L monovalent pegylated Fab' antibody fragment (CDP7657) in a Phase 1 clinical trial of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE.

From research so far conducted, ALS TDI believes that targeting CD40L is a potential therapeutic approach for ALS. ALS TDI has studied a commercially available research reagent that targets CD40L in a preclinical disease model of ALS (known as SOD1). The results, which were published in Nature Genetics in 2010, showed that the antiCD40L research reagent slowed paralysis and improved survival in the pre-clinical SOD1 model.

Under the terms of this agreement, ALS TDI will test a murine surrogate of CDP7657 in the SOD1 model. On conclusion of the study, Biogen Idec and UCB will have the option to license global rights to develop and commercialize compounds targeting the CD40L pathway in ALS.  

"This relationship validates the approach taken by ALS TDI to bridge the gap between basic science and drug development for ALS.  There is great hope that this project will be a successful one and lead to additional therapeutic options for people living with ALS today," said Steve Perrin, Ph.D., CEO & Chief Scientific Officer of ALS TDI.

"ALS is a devastating and deadly disease, and Biogen Idec and UCB are both committed to finding therapies for severe neurological diseases with high unmet medical need. We are excited about this project and look forward to working with ALS-TDI in this investigation," said Douglas Kerr, M.D., Ph.D., Director of Medical Research at Biogen Idec.

"By combining ALS TDI's innovative approach to bridging the translational research gap with our companies' strengths in developing and commercializing novel therapies, we hope to advance this promising compound for ALS patients," added Neil Weir, Senior Vice President Discovery Research, at UCB.