Gowling WLG assists AstraZeneca in establishing collaboration with Takeda to develop and commercialise MEDI1341 for Parkinson's disease

2 minute read
01 September 2017

Legal experts at the international law firm, Gowling WLG, have played a key role in assisting AstraZeneca in formulating a collaborative agreement with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited to jointly develop and commercialise MEDI1341, an alpha-synuclein antibody currently in development as a potential treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD).

Under the terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca will lead phase 1 development while Takeda will lead future clinical development activities. The companies will share equally future development and commercialisation costs for MEDI1341, as well as any future revenues. Takeda will pay AstraZeneca up to $400 million, including initial revenue in 2017 and development and sales milestones thereafter. Additional terms of the agreement are not disclosed.

The team at Gowling WLG was led by partner Patrick Duxbury assisted by principal associate Mathilda Davidson. They worked closely with AstraZeneca Neuroscience's Chief Counsel, Conor Johnston.

Alpha-synuclein (α-synuclein) is an aggregation-prone protein that contributes to the development of PD. This protein is the major constituent of Lewy bodies, which are pathological protein aggregates that accumulate in the nerve cells of patients with PD and appear to spread throughout the nervous system during the progression of the disease. These insights support the development of new PD medicines that seek to remove existing pathological alpha-synuclein aggregates, prevent their formation, or stop them from spreading. Such therapies could potentially prevent or delay the onset of PD, or halt or slow its progression.


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