Eisai’s first investigational drug candidate from their drug discovery collaboration with University College London (UCL) is entering Phase I trials in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The E2814 candidate, an anti-tau monoclonal antibody, will be assessed in its ability to slow the progression of AD.

AD is a chronic, progressive, neurodegenerative disease characterized by formation of protein deposits known as plaques (made of amyloid-beta protein) and neurofibrillary tangles (made of tau protein) in patient’s brains. Tau “seeds” are believed to spread between different areas of the brain as the disease advances. E2814 is designed to target the tau “seeds”, preventing further build-up of neurofibrillary tangles and thus may slow the course of the disease.

The 2012 research collaboration has been extended for a further five years to 2023. It was established as part of Eisai’s Open Innovation strategy to collaborate with leading researchers in order to translate new research findings into innovative treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. E2814 is one outcome from a portfolio of projects established during the first phase of the collaboration with UCL.

“Significant unmet medical needs exist for neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease due to a lack of effective treatments that can prevent disease progression, and Eisai’s mission is to contribute to overcoming these issues,” said Teiji Kimura, chief discovery officer of the Eisai Neurology Business Group. “By combining the knowledge of UCL, which conducts world-class research into neurodegenerative disorders and is the operational hub of the UK Dementia Research Institute, together with the knowledge of Eisai, who possesses a rich pipeline for dementia treatments, we are doing our utmost to link the results of joint research starting with E2814 to new medicines in order to contribute to patients who are awaiting curative therapies as soon as possible.”

Professor Alan Thompson, Dean of UCL Faculty of Brain Sciences, said, “This unique research partnership brings together UCL’s world-class academic research capabilities with the drug discovery expertise of industry. These results highlight the success of bringing together such complementary expertise.”