SciNeuro and Novartis ink $1.7B Alzheimer's drug deal

• SciNeuro's technology aims to differentiate its antibodies from currently approved Alzheimer's treatments like Leqembi and Kisunla, which have faced limited uptake due to concerns over cost, efficacy, and side effects
• SciNeuro will collaborate on early-stage development before Novartis takes over clinical testing and global commercialization if approved
• The deal reflects industry shift toward novel approaches targeting multiple biological pathways in Alzheimer's, with improved blood-brain barrier penetration as a key differentiator

Summary

Novartis has entered into a licensing agreement worth up to $1.7 billion with privately held SciNeuro Pharmaceuticals to develop antibody treatments for Alzheimer's disease. The deal includes $165 million in upfront payments to SciNeuro, with potential milestone payments of up to $1.5 billion tied to development, regulatory approvals, and sales targets, plus royalties on future sales.

The partnership grants Novartis access to SciNeuro's proprietary brain delivery technology, which aims to improve drug penetration across the blood-brain barrier. This approach could differentiate the treatment from currently approved Alzheimer's therapies that target amyloid beta protein clearance, including Biogen/Eisai's Leqembi and Eli Lilly's Kisunla.

The collaboration addresses a critical need in Alzheimer's treatment, as existing approved therapies have faced limited adoption due to concerns over cost, efficacy, and side effects. The pharmaceutical industry is increasingly exploring novel approaches to treat Alzheimer's as a complex, multi-pathway disease. Roche has also recently launched late-stage trials for trontinemab, which uses similar brain shuttle technology.

Under the agreement terms, SciNeuro will collaborate with Novartis on early-stage development before Novartis assumes responsibility for clinical testing and global commercialization if the drug receives approval. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026.

This deal underscores continued pharmaceutical industry investment in Alzheimer's research and the growing focus on innovative drug delivery mechanisms to improve treatment outcomes for the memory-robbing disease.