UCB and Synosia Therapeutics announced a new strategic partnership in neurology. Synosia has granted UCB a license for exclusive, worldwide rights to the development compound SYN-115 and rights to a second compound, SYN-118, for non-orphan indications. Both are in phase-II clinical development for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

Under the agreement, UCB will make an equity investment totalling USD 20 million as part of a Series C funding in Synosia. Synosia will also receive an undisclosed upfront payment and could receive potential regulatory and commercial milestone payments of up to a total of USD 725 million across both compounds. Reflecting the strategic nature of the alliance, two representatives of UCB will join Synosia’s Board of Directors.

Ismail Kola, “We are impressed with Synosia’s development capabilities and the possibility of expanding our alliance in the future,” said Dr Ismail Kola, executive vice president of Drug Discovery and President of UCB NewMedicines. “With access to these two potentially important new treatments for people living with movement disorders, UCB reinforces its intention to become the patient-centric biopharmaceutical leader in neurology and immunology.”

“UCB is an ideal partner for us given their global capabilities and presence in the field of neurology and their demonstrated ability to form innovative and effective partnerships,” said Dr Ian Massey, chief executive officer and president of Synosia Therapeutics. “Given the novel mechanisms and encouraging results of SYN-115 and SYN-118, as well as the financial structure of our agreement with UCB, this partnership has the potential to be a big value driver for Synosia while providing valuable new therapies for patients with movement disorders.”

SYN-115 is an orally-bioavailable adenosine 2A (A2a) antagonist, which enters the brain and activates regions with motor and non-motor function.

UCB, Brussels, Belgium is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people living with severe diseases of the immune system or of the central nervous system.