Allergan has purchased an exclusive option right to acquire Lysosomal Therapeutics (LTI), a drug developer focused on small-molecule R&D in the field of neurodegeneration.
 
LTI’s lead program, LTI-291, aims to stimulate the activity of glucocerebrosidase (GCase) in the brain. In several lysosomal storage diseases, the activity of GCase is reduced due to genetic mutations in the GBA1 gene. Approximately 5 to 10 percent of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) have mutations of the GBA1 gene, which leads to more rapid progression of the disease. Thus, it is hoped that activation of GCase by LTI-291 will impact the progression of PD in these patients.
 
Allergan purchased an option to acquire LTI following completion of a Phase Ib trial for LTI-291 and will provide a an upfront R&D payment. Allergan and LTI will establish a joint committee to oversee the development activities for LTI-291. Additional terms were not disclosed.
 
“Parkinson’s disease is an area of medicine where significant unmet need exists, particularly in the development and potential breakthrough of disease-modifying treatments for the more than 2 million people suffering with Parkinson’s today,” said David Nicholson, chief R&D officer, Allergan. “The pioneering work of the LTI team in developing its GCase program harnesses the link between GCase activity and disease progression in patients with a GBA mutation who suffer from Parkinson’s disease. The intention is to provide therapeutic benefit for the affected patients by modulating GCase activity. We look forward to working with the LTI team to further their work in this area and the potential for positive Phase I results.”
 
“LTI is paving a new path in the characterization of Parkinson’s disease, including the understanding of a patient’s glycosphingolipid profile and its relevance to therapeutic response,” said Kees Been, chief executive officer of Lysosomal Therapeutics. “We are pleased to work with Allergan to support the acceleration of LTI’s leading GCase activators to reach as many Parkinson’s patients as soon as possible.  We look forward to reaching the milestones that will deliver significant value to both companies, and most of all, to developing much needed therapeutics for patients with PD.”