Allergan to target neurodegenerative disease drugs

It was announced yesterday that Allergan is to “extend” its strategic collaboration with ExonHit Therapeutics to produce drugs to combat neurodegenerative disease.

Dr Scott Whitcup, executive vice president of research and development at Allergan, said that the initial results of the collaboration were encouraging and that the firm was looking forward to “working with ExonHit in finding innovative treatments that address unmet medical needs”.

The collaboration, which began in 2003, has been extended until September 2009 and the research and development it carries out will now expand into new areas, such as Parkinson’s disease. It currently investigates Alzheimer’s disease, pain and ophthalmology.

Commenting on the collaboration in general, Bruno Tocque, chief executive officer of ExonHit Therapeutics, said: “The interaction between Allergan and ExonHit scientists continues to be first rate. Both parties have very complementary skills that they share openly to discover new therapies in areas where unmet needs are still strong.”

The current relationship sees Allegran provide general research and development payments to ExonHit. Under the new, extended collaboration milestone and royalty payments will be increased, as will the general payments. In addition to this, ExonHit will also receive an additional sum as a result of signing the new agreement.

Allegan is headquartered in California and currently employs around 5,000 people across the globe. The healthcare company specialises in providing pharmaceutical products and eye care.