UCB and investor partners launch new business Syndesi Therapeutics

UCB has allied with a syndicate of Belgian and international investors to launch a new business called Syndesi Therapeutics.

The new organisation will be based in Belgium and is dedicated to developing novel therapeutics for cognitive disorders, leveraging UCB's neurology expertise in modulating the synaptic vesicle protein SV2A.

It has exclusively licensed a first-in-class small molecule programme from UCB, which it will be working to move into clinical development with the support of series A investment totalling EUR 17 million (GBP 14.93 million).

The new SV2A modulators are based on UCB's epilepsy drug portfolio and have demonstrated robust pro-cognitive properties in preclinical models. Since cognitive impairment is outside UCB's strategic scope, it has opted to develop these therapies externally to leverage their full potential.

Members of the investor syndicate backing Syndesi Therapeutics include Novo Seeds, Fountain Healthcare, Johnson and Johnson Innovation and the Walloon Investment Fund.

Dhavalkumar Patel, UCB's chief scientific officer and executive vice-president, said: "We are excited to see Syndesi develop our novel pro-cognitive SV2A modulators to create value for patients with cognitive impairment."

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