AstraZeneca co-develops treatment for Alzheimer's disease

9th Dec 2016 12:14

(ShareCast News) - Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has teamed up with American counterpart Eli Lilly to co-develop a treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD). The treatment, called MEDI1814, an antibody selective for amyloid-beta 42,and is currently in Phase 1 trials as a potential disease-modifying treatment. This agreement builds on the existing collaboration related to AZD3293, a BACE inhibitor in two pivotal Phase 3 trials.The build-up of plaques in the brain containing the peptide amyloid-beta is one of the characteristics of AD.MEDI1814 binds selectively to Amyloid-beta42, a form of Amyloid-beta which is particularly associated with the disease, in order to reduce levels of this peptide, potentially slowing the progression of AD.Under the terms of the agreement, Lilly will make a $30m upfront payment to AstraZeneca, as a charge to earnings in the fourth quarter of 2016.AstraZeneca's share price rose 1.72% to 4187p at 1427 GMT on Friday.