Roche and Seaside Therapeutics announce new alliance

Roche is to ally with Seaside Therapeutics to conduct joint research into neurodevelopmental disorders for which there are no current effective therapy options.

The companies will be developing disease-modifying treatments for fragile X syndrome and autism spectrum disorders, with the aim of creating therapies that tackle core symptoms of these conditions at a molecular level.

Seaside will license patents covering the use of mGluR5 antagonists exclusively to Roche for this project, with Roche leading the development and commercialisation of these compounds.

The collaboration will build on recent discoveries in genetics which have offered promising insights into the biological underpinnings of these diseases.

Luca Santarelli, global head of Roche Neuroscience, said: "We sought to build a solid partnership with Seaside Therapeutics, a company that has successfully pioneered the research and development in this novel and uncharted area."

Earlier this year, the company announced an extension of its collaboration with Sysmex, pertaining to the sale of haematology products in various international territories.