AstraZeneca neuroscience unit inks deal with Vanderbilt University

AstraZeneca plc (NYSE: AZN) has signed a research deal with Vanderbilt University to identify potential treatments for psychosis and other psychiatric symptoms associated with diseases like Alzheimer?s and schizophrenia.

The UK-based drug giant?s Neuroscience Innovative Medicines Unit headquartered in Cambridge, Mass. and Cambridge, England, has exclusively licensed rights to compounds developed by the Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery (VCNDD) that act on a certain brain receptor.

Vanderbilt will receive an upfront payment research funding for two years as well as milestone payments and sales royalties of any drugs that are approved, but the dollar figure of the deal was not disclosed.

?AstraZeneca is interested in pursuing research collaborations across all areas of neuroscience research where the science is compelling,? Dr. Mike Poole, vice president of the AstraZeneca Neuroscience Innovative Medicines Unit, said in a statement. ?We believe that combining AstraZeneca?s deep experience in drug development and translational science with VCNDD?s expertise in drug discovery is an important step toward bringing new medicines forward for people who are suffering from neurodegenerative diseases.?

This is the second academic deal the neuroscience unit has entered into, since its creation in February 2012 to exclusively pursue outside collaborations to drive drug development in hard-to-treat neuroscience disease areas. The unit has also inked deals with two privately-held New England biotechs: Conn.-based Axerion Therapeutics, and with Mass.-based Link Medicine Corp.

The goal is to lower AstraZeneca?s internal research and development costs by leveraging discoveries at academic centers. In the case of Vanderbilt, the early-stage drug compounds that are part of the agreement were supported by the National Institute of Mental Health.

Health Care/Life Sciences

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