Key points from article :
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has entered a $2.2 billion agreement with Alector to develop therapies for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The deal includes a $700 million upfront payment, with the potential for up to $1.5 billion more based on success. The focus is on monoclonal antibodies that target progranulin, a protein crucial for immune regulation and neuron survival. This collaboration reflects GSK's strategy to rebuild its drug pipeline under CEO Emma Walmsley, who is also navigating pressure from activist investors as she oversees corporate transformation.
This partnership is part of GSK’s broader strategy, which includes recent collaborations with other biotech firms, such as iTeos Therapeutics for cancer therapies. The deal with Alector marks a significant push into the emerging field of immunotherapies for neurodegenerative diseases, an area where progress has been challenging. The partnership signals renewed optimism for treatments targeting Alzheimer’s, following the controversial approval of Biogen’s Alzheimer’s drug.
