AstraZeneca co-develops treatment for Alzheimer's disease

Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has teamed up with American counterpart Eli Lilly to co-develop a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

The treatment, called MEDI1814, an antibody selective for amyloid-beta 42,and is currently in Phase 1 trials as a potential disease-modifying treatment. This agreement builds on the existing collaboration related to AZD3293, a BACE inhibitor in two pivotal Phase 3 trials.

The build-up of plaques in the brain containing the peptide amyloid-beta is one of the characteristics of AD.

MEDI1814 binds selectively to Amyloid-beta42, a form of Amyloid-beta which is particularly associated with the disease, in order to reduce levels of this peptide, potentially slowing the progression of AD.

Under the terms of the agreement, Lilly will make a $30m upfront payment to AstraZeneca, as a charge to earnings in the fourth quarter of 2016.

AstraZeneca’s share price rose 1.72% to 4187p at 1427 GMT on Friday.