Alkermes plc has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Rodin Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held biopharma company focused on small molecule therapeutics for synaptopathies. This transaction expands Alkermes’ experience in central nervous system (CNS) diseases and development efforts into a wide range of neurodegenerative disorders. 

Rodin has been working to develop first-in-class, orally-available, brain-permeable therapeutics for synaptopathies by designing molecules that target specific histone deacetylase (HDAC) complexes. Selective inhibition of the HDAC−co-repressor of repressor element-1 silencing transcription factor (CoREST) complex is believed to reactivate neuronal gene expression, strengthen existing synapses and promote the creation of new synapses, while minimizing known class-based hematologic safety concerns.

Synaptic dysfunction is a pathological feature in many neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases, and synaptic loss correlates closely with cognitive decline. HDACs are a class of proteins involved in chromatin remodeling and gene expression and have been shown to regulate synaptogenesis and synaptic plasticity. Currently available HDAC inhibitors with known prosynaptic effects are associated with dose-limiting hematological toxicities, precluding their use in the treatment of chronic neurologic conditions.

“Rodin’s targeted approach to strengthening synaptic integrity is backed by a robust translational strategy and may have potential across multiple diseases which are characterized by impaired neuronal and synaptic function,” commented Adam Rosenberg, Chief Executive Officer of Rodin. “With its proven ability to develop novel medicines for the treatment of CNS disorders, we believe Alkermes is ideally suited to advance this exciting new approach to neurologic diseases and bring potential new treatment options to patients that may benefit from Rodin’s synaptogenic platform.”

“Building on our broad experience in psychiatry, we believe this transaction will allow us to explore a wide array of neurodegenerative diseases and synaptopathies, which have been areas of significant interest to us as we have advanced our internal pipeline of medicines for CNS disorders. HDAC inhibitors are powerful epigenetic regulators that have therapeutic potential to address some of the most disruptive clinical symptoms that accompany neurogenerative diseases,” commented Richard Pops, Chief Executive Officer of Alkermes. “This investment is reflective of our longstanding commitment to bring new and innovative therapeutic options to patients living with chronic CNS diseases where the unmet medical need is high.”

Alkermes intends to advance Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling activities for lead preclinical assets in the Rodin development candidate portfolio, potentially prioritizing those ahead of future clinical development of Rodin’s initial clinical candidate. Alkermes also plans to continue Rodin’s preclinical research program focused on the subset of frontotemporal dementia patients with an inherited mutation of the progranulin gene (FTD-GRN) and exploratory work in hematological disorders and oncology.