Dive Brief:
- Rodin and Biogen are partnering up on Alzheimer's disease R&D. The partnership will help Rodin along the development pathway with its small-molecule in development, while also providing a potential candidate for Biogen's neuroscience pipeline.
- Under the terms of the deal, Biogen has the right to acquire Rodin for $485 million once research advances past a certain milestone.
- Cambridge, MA-based Rodin focuses on epigenetics, targeting the enzyme HDAC2 - a relatively unique approach to developing drugs in the neuroscience space.
Dive Insight:
Rodin's collaboration agreement with Biogen, in addition to a recent $17.3 million infusion of venture funding, will allow the company to better pursue its epigenetic approach. However, the company's Alzheimer's therapy is still two to three years away from clinical trials.
Interestingly, both companies have focused on defining endpoints based on specific biomarkers. Rodin's CEO, Adam Rosenberg, feels this approach could make the difference between ultimate success and failure.
Rosenberg respects Biogen's disease-area expertise in neuroscience, while Biogen sees Rodin as a complement to their own investments in epigenetic research.
Biogen is continuing to develop aducanumab (BIIB-037) for Alzheimer's disease, an amyloid-based therapy which elicited a great deal of excitement last year based on early efficacy results. Despite a setback during clinical trials later in the year, Biogen will move forward with development.