Galenea Corporation, a leader in the rapidly emerging field of synaptic transmission (ST), has entered into a strategic neuroscience collaboration with Eisai Co. Ltd.

Under the collaboration, Galenea will apply its synaptic transmission platform technology to address synaptic dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases. The collaboration’s goals are the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for neurodegeneration mediated by a disease-specific protein.

Galenea’s approach addresses three critical challenges in neuroscience drug discovery: disease mechanism, using Mantra, a novel, high throughput screening system for synaptic function; predictive animal models, using integrated behavioral assessment and EEG measures; and clinical biomarkers, using translational EEG measures elicited by behavioral tasks in the clinic. The Mantra system is the only high throughput screening system for directly identifying modulators of synaptic transmission in primary neurons.

Under the terms of the collaboration, Eisai will make an up-front payment and milestone payments throughout the programme.

“Eisai has one of the most successful neuroscience franchises today, and has made a clear commitment to innovation and discovery. This collaboration, which is focused on a single, highly implicated target in neurodegeneration, has been crafted to take advantage of our unique approach.” said Mark Benjamin, Galenea’s president & CEO. “We are thrilled to be working with Eisai, and we see enormous potential in this programme and partnership.”