Neurological Disease: Early-Stage R&D and Dealmaking

Abstract

Introduction

How can early-stage R&D efforts be positioned to tap the remaining opportunity in the neurology drug market? Although brimming with potential, neurology drug development is also rife with unique challenges that many companies and agents have been unable to overcome, as witnessed by the failures of agents initially deemed highly promising. However, careful planning - including risk mitigation through strategic collaboration - can allow a drug developer to take advantage of the signifi cant opportunity in this market.

Questions Answered in This Report

• Although therapies are available for neurological disorders, most of these conditions remain undertreated, and no cures are available. What benefi ts do novel therapies have over existing treatment options? How can companies mitigate the risk associated with drug development?
• Much of the innovation in drug discovery and design occurs in small companies. What companies are developing novel approaches to treat neurological diseases? What collaborations have they forged with Big Pharma?
• The neurology market is entering a period of stagnation. What is currently driving market growth? What are the greatest needs in the treatment of neurological diseases?

Scope

• Novel targets for neurology: Beta-amyloid, beta-secretase, tau protein, NMDA, nicotinic acetylcholinesterase receptor, HMG-CoA reductase.
• Novel technologies for neurology: Deep-brain stimulation, stem cell therapy.
• Focus on diseases with neuronal degradation as a primary symptom: Alzheimer' s disease (AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson' s disease (PD), Huntington' s disease (HD), ALS and other motor neuron diseases.
• Company profi les: Lundbeck, CoMentis, Targacept, Vitae Pharmaceuticals.
• Outlook: Challenges in drug development, recent dealmaking, need for increased research, benefi ts of academic collaborations.

Mentioned in This Report

Companies

• Abbott
• AC Immune
• Acorda Therapeutics
• Affi ris
• Allon Therapeutics
• Apitope International
• Astellas Pharma
• AstraZeneca
• Athersys
• Bayer
• Bial
• Biogen Idec
• Biovail
• Boehringer Ingelheim
• BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics
• Cambridge Laboratories
• CoMentis
• Cytos Biotechnology
• Eisai
• Elan
• Eli Lilly
• Envivo
• Evotec
• Genentech
• Geron
• GlaxoSmithKline
• Intellect Neurosciences
• Johnson & Johnson
• LifeHealth
• Lundbeck
• Medivation
• Merck & Co.
• Merck Serono
• MorphoSys
• Neureva
• NeuroSearch
• Novartis
• Ovation Pharmaceuticals
• Peptimmune
• Pfi zer
• Prana Biotechnology
• QR Pharma
• ReceptoPharm
• ReNeuron Group
• Roche
• Stem Cell Therapeutics
• StemCells
• Targacept
• TauRx Therapeutics
• Vitae Pharmaceuticals
• Wyeth