Synosia Announces Second Agreement With Roche

Main Category: Alzheimer's / Dementia
Also Included In: Schizophrenia;  Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry;  Psychology / Psychiatry
Article Date: 10 Mar 2009 - 6:00 PDT

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Synosia Therapeutics today announced it has entered into a second agreement with Roche, adding a further promising molecule to Synosia's clinical pipeline. Under the new agreement, Synosia gains access to a new-generation 5-HT6 antagonist in phase I to be investigated for the treatment of cognitive disorders. The deal expands and builds on the original agreement with Roche, announced in 2007, to develop multiple compounds targeting disorders of the central nervous system (CNS).

Dr Ian Massey, Chief Executive Officer and President of Synosia Therapeutics said: "Our strategy of undertaking innovative, proof-of-mechanism clinical trials to explore the full potential of these molecules is working well and we expect to see data later this year.

"We are particularly pleased to gain access to an additional 5-HT6 antagonist, which has the potential to be a best-in-class molecule for a target with substantial preclinical and clinical validation," he continued."

Dr Luca Santarelli, Roche's Global Head of Clinical Research & Exploratory Development for CNS said: "Our partnership with Synosia explores novel approaches in translational medicine and is an innovative part of our development strategy that allows us to maximise value creation for both sides."

The most common cognitive disorders include Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. Industry analysts groupH predict that by 2017 the global market for Alzheimer's will grow to $6.2bn and the global market for schizophrenia will grow to $5.8bn.

5-HT6 receptors are expressed exclusively in the brain and in regions associated with memory function. Synosia now has two 5-HT6 antagonists in its portfolio. Both are potent, highly selective small molecules.

In addition to the Roche partnership, Synosia also has strategic agreements in place with Novartis and Syngenta, with compounds in late-stage phase I and phase II development.

About the Terms of the Agreement

Under the terms of the original agreement with Roche, Synosia assumed responsibility for the clinical development of five drug candidates in CNS: nepicastat (a dopamine β-hydoxlyase inhibitor), an A2a antagonist, a 5-HT6 antagonist, an IP inhibitor and an mGluR1 enhancer.

This second agreement extends the partnership to include a second 5-HT6 antagonist and also revises the terms of the original agreement to give Synosia full development and commercialisation rights to all programmes. Roche retains opt-in rights to the 5-HT6 programme only.

About Synosia Therapeutics

Synosia Therapeutics develops and intends to commercialize innovative and clinically differentiated products for unmet medical needs in psychiatry and neurology. The privately-owned company has seven clinical-stage compounds in its pipeline, acquired through key partnerships with Novartis, Roche and Syngenta. Synosia's pipeline includes two marketed drugs that are being tested in new indications, extending their reach into neurological and psychiatric diseases with high unmet medical need, including anxiety and Parkinson's disease. Synosia's headquarters is in Basel, Switzerland.

Synosia Therapeutics

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