Lundbeck boosts Parkinson’s pipeline with acquisition

Danish pharmaceutical company Lundbeck has boosted its pipeline of treatments for patients with Parkinson’s disease with the planned acquisition of Prexton Therapeutics.

On Friday, March 16, Lundbeck announced the acquisition, under which Lundbeck will pay €100 million ($123 million) up front and up to €805 million in sales milestones.

Lundbeck will obtain the rights to foliglurax, which is currently in clinical testing for treating the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Data from the ongoing trial is expected to be available during the first half of 2019.

Founded in 2012 by Francois Conquet and M Ventures (the corporate venture arm of Merck KGaA), the biopharmaceutical company focuses on disorders of the brain.

Anders Götzsche, interim CEO and chief financial officer at Lundbeck, said: “Foliglurax addresses high unmet needs with its potential indication in Parkinson’s fitting perfectly within Lundbeck’s core areas and this treatment option also appears to be highly interesting for patients, physicians and payors.”

Götzsche stepped in as CEO in October 2017, after Kåre Schultz was hired by Teva.

Last year, Thomas Kirkbak, chief IP litigation specialist at Lundbeck, was chosen as one of the LSIPR 50 2017 for his influence on the life sciences industry. Click here to read about the challenges Kirkbak faces in his role.

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