Takeda licenses Alzheimer’s biomarker from Zinfandel

Takeda has agreed a licensing deal with Zinfandel Pharmaceuticals concerning a promising new biomarker for assessing the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

The agreement sees Takeda receive exclusive global rights to develop and commercialise the TOMM40 assay, which was discovered by a research team led by Zinfandel chief executive officer Dr Allen Roses.

It can potentially allow for the identification of patients who are at risk of developing the neurodegenerative condition and may therefore benefit from involvement in a pharmacogenetics-assisted clinical trial.

This deal also includes potential use of the TOMM40 assay in combination with Takeda's drug pioglitazone among high-risk older adults with normal cognition.

Dr Shigenori Ohkawa, chief scientific officer at Takeda, said: "We are energised by this partnership and the opportunity to develop an effective treatment for healthy at-risk older adults."

Last month, Takeda announced it will be working with the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute and Florida Hospital in order to research new biomarkers and treatments for obesity.