Lundbeck has entered into a definitive agreement with AprilBio, a biopharmaceutical company based in South Korea.

Under the agreement between the two companies, Lundbeck receives exclusive, worldwide rights to research, develop and commercialize APB-A1, a novel and well-differentiated anti-CD40 ligand (CD40L) antibody-like drug candidate, ready for phase I testing around the beginning of 2022. This novel drug candidate offers significant potential across a wide array of neuroimmune diseases, states Lundbeck.

“Based on promising preclinical data, this project has the potential to offer new, potent and differentiated therapies for several different types of neuroimmune diseases.”

“I am excited to announce this partnership with AprilBio around their interesting novel anti-CD40L antibody-like molecule that accelerates our R&D strategy within neuroimmunology, one of our four strategic biological focus areas. Based on promising preclinical data, this project has the potential to offer new, potent and differentiated therapies for several different types of neuroimmune diseases,” says Johan Luthman, EVP and Head of Research & Development in Lundbeck.

A one-time payment to AprilBio of 16 million USD in cash

The agreement enables Lundbeck to initiate clinical activities targeting the neuroimmune system. The concept is built on a biology that has proven its ability to therapeutically target diseases of the central nervous system. APB-A1 will accelerate internal experience and expertise that in turn will enable building a broader pipeline for Lundbeck in this area, the company states.

Under the terms of the license agreement, Lundbeck will make a one-time payment to AprilBio of USD 16 million in cash. In addition, Lundbeck will pay AprilBio success-based development, regulatory, and sales milestone payments of up to USD 432 million related to APB-A1. Lundbeck will also pay AprilBio tiered royalty payments with the highest tier reaching low double-digit percentage of net sales. Lundbeck will be responsible for all future development activities and expenses related to the project.

Photo of Johan Luthman: Lundbeck