Cipla Ltd, a Rs. 8,000 crore plus fifth largest Indian pharmaceutical company, has signed a definitive agreement to invest US$ 1.5 million to acquire 14.6 per cent stake in Chase Pharmaceuticals Corporation Inc, US through its UK based wholly owned subsidiary Cipla (EU) Ltd. Cipla will make an additional $4.5 million investment in Chase upon achievement of certain milestones.

Chase is an early stage drug development company developing novel approaches to improve treatments for Alzheimer's disease. It has a unique patented approach and is focused on improving the efficacy, safety and tolerability of existing Alzheimer medications.

Cipla – through its impact investment unit Cipla New Ventures – is investing in the Series B round of financing as part of a syndicate, which also consists of Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners and New Rhein Healthcare LLC. Cipla New Ventures was set up to chart a trajectory in innovation around biologicals, repurposing existing safe drugs and leveraging Cipla’s enviable suite of delivery technologies through disruptive innovation around access and affordability. It is managed by Chandru Chawla.

The $21 million two-phase financing will support phase 2a and Phase 2b clinical trials for Chase’s lead drug CPC 201. The original venture funding for Chase was provided by the Brain Trust Accelerator Fund in 2010.

Commenting on the investment, Subhanu Saxena, MD & Global CEO, Cipla Ltd said: “This investment is consistent with Cipla New Ventures’ mission to build more innovation-led business streams for Cipla in the future. We want to bring affordable medicines, where we identify an unmet patient need, in a way that leverages Cipla’s formidable technology, device and development capabilities.”

In India, over 5 million patients suffer from dementia, most of whom are afflicted with Alzheimer’s. These numbers are expected to double by 2030. In India, the caregiver is the family and the economic and social impact is far reaching. In North America, Alzheimer’s disease affects more than over 7 million patients and its impact is growing as the population ages. The disease costs the US alone $203 billion annually with projections to reach $1.2 trillion by 2050.

In addition to financing Chase, Cipla will collaborate with the company to develop the drug. If successful, Cipla may provide low cost access to Chase’s lead drug in India and South Africa where Cipla has championed affordable access to essential and life-saving medications for decades.

Chase is an early stage drug development company, based in Washington, DC. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for those suffering from disorders of brain function, especially cognitive dysfunction of the Alzheimer’s type. In the service of this goal, Chase Pharmaceuticals seeks to advance the development of its own intellectual property towards commercial products that satisfy crucial unmet medical needs. Current efforts, focused on pharmaceuticals for Alzheimer type dementia, include oral medications such as its lead product, CPC-201, as well as CPC-260 for transdermal administration.