Research Update

Selvita & Orion Pharma to Collaborate on Alzheimer's Disease Programme

Orion Corporation and Selvita have agreed to collaborate on further research and development of Selvita'sSEL103 programme, for the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The agreement provides for an initial up-front payment to Selvita from Orion, as well as research funding and additional milestone payments based on the successfulness of the development of the compound in multiple cognitive disorder indications.

Selvita from Krakow, Poland and Orion Corporation from Espoo, Finland have announced that they have entered into a global collaboration to jointly develop and commercialise SEL103, Selvita's proprietary programme for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive disorders. Selvita will be responsible for early research on the programme and Orion will take over the pre-clinical and clinical development as well as further commercialisation.

Under the terms of the agreement, Selvita will be responsible for the discovery and early preclinical development of small molecules and will receive upfront and research funding as well as milestone payments from Orion subject to the progress of the development programme. After the selection of a lead compound, Orion will be responsible for the further steps of the programme with global commercialisation rights. The financial and other details of the collaboration agreement remain between the parties.

"Neurodegenerative diseases with cognitive dysfunctions are a major global disease burden. The joint programme combines synergistically the capabilities of both companies providing new opportunities with a clear aim to develop improved medicines for patients with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders," said Dr Jukka Sallinen, Head of CNS Research of Orion.

The companies are planning to conduct a broad-based global research and development programme.

EH News Bureau