Otsuka and Lundbeck to co-develop new Alzheimer’s vaccine

Otsuka and Lundbeck are to expand their pre-existing collaborative agreement to include an investigational vaccine candidate for Alzheimer's disease.

The companies are to work together to progress the development of Lu AF20513, an anti-beta-amyloid active vaccine concept, currently in preclinical testing, which is expected to begin phase I clinical trials in 2014.

It represents a new approach to treating the disease, aiming to elicit an optimal immunogenic response in the elderly, based on a hypothesis that cognitive function can be preserved through the early inhibition of amyloid beta depositions.

The two companies are currently also continuing the development of two other potential treatments for different Alzheimer's symptoms – Lu AE58054, for the prevention of cognitive impairment, and brexpiprazole, a means of treating agitation associated with the condition.

Both of these drugs are in phase III testing. Phase I trials of the new vaccine will commence next year.

This announcement comes after Otsuka and Lundbeck were granted European regulatory approval for their new schizophrenia therapy Abilify Maintena last month.