GSK and Alector have teamed up to co-develop and commercialise two clinical-stage, investigational monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

The collaboration will develop AL001 and AL101 to treat frontotemporal dementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

Under the terms of the agreement, Alector will develop both the candidates through Phase 2 proof-of-concept, with further development in partnership with GSK, on a cost-sharing basis.

The companies will jointly commercialise and share profits in the US, while GSK would retain exclusive commercialisation rights outside the US.

Alector is eligible to receive an upfront payment of $700m, along with an additional up to $1.5bn in potential milestone payments, profit sharing and tiered royalties.

GSK said that the collaboration would combine its R&D capabilities, late-stage drug development capabilities and global footprint with Alector’s immuno-neurology expertise.

GSK R&D chief scientific officer and president Hal Barron said: “Our focus on human genetics and the science of the immune system gives us unique insights into the potential of targets such as progranulin to help patients with a number of neurodegenerative diseases.

“Working with Alector’s world-class scientists will allow us to investigate the potential of these immuno-neurology therapies to help patients with frontotemporal dementia, a devastating disease without any currently approved treatments, as well as explore the ability to help patients with other neurodegenerative diseases, such as ALS, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.”

Alector is a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering immuno-neurology, a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

It develops portfolio programmes to repair genetic mutations that cause dysfunction of the brain’s immune system and help rejuvenated immune cells to counter new brain pathologies.

The company’s AL001 and AL101 are immuno-neurology treatments that work by elevating the levels of progranulin (PGRN), which regulates immune activity in the brain.

A Phase 3 trial of AL001 is currently enrolling people at risk for or with frontotemporal dementia due to a progranulin gene mutation (FTD-GRN).

FTD-GRN is a severe form of rapidly progressing dementia, prevalent in people aged less than 65 years, and has no approved treatments.

AL101 is being studied in a Phase 1a clinical trial and is designed to treat patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

Alector CEO Arnon Rosenthal said: “This transformative collaboration brings together Alector’s leading immuno-neurology expertise with GSK’s commitment to immunology and human genetics, proven drug development capabilities and global footprint.

“This collaboration is designed to fully support AL001 and AL101’s development and to enable Alector to continue building a fully integrated company as we strive to address the high unmet medical need in patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases.

“We are confident that GSK’s extensive experience launching ground-breaking medicines at the intersection of immunology and human genetics, will ensure that AL001 and AL101 are developed to their full potential.”

Last month, GSK has joined forces with iTeos Therapeutics to co-develop and co-commercialise investigational monoclonal antibody for cancer treatment.