Prothena Corp. and Novo Nordisk entered into a definitive purchase agreement under which Novo Nordisk has acquired Prothena’s clinical stage antibody PRX004 and broader ATTR amyloidosis program for as much as $1.2 billion, including $100 million in upfront and near-term clinical milestones.

PRX004 is a phase 2-ready anti-amyloid immunotherapy designed to deplete the amyloid deposits that are associated with the disease pathology of ATTR amyloidosis.

ATTR amyloidosis is a rare, progressive and fatal disease characterized by the abnormal build-up of amyloid deposits composed of misfolded transthyretin protein in organs and tissues, most commonly the heart and/or nervous system.

Prothena completed a phase 1 study with PRX004 in patients with hereditary forms of ATTR, in which PRX004 was found to be safe and well tolerated.

Novo Nordisk will initially focus on the clinical development of PRX004 in ATTR cardiomyopathy – an underdiagnosed and potentially fatal form of ATTR amyloidosis.
Under the purchase agreement, Novo Nordisk acquires Prothena’s wholly-owned subsidiary and gains full rights to the intellectual property and related rights of Prothena’s ATTR amyloidosis business and pipeline.