GSKs newest neuro pact is with ABL Bio, a Sanofi-partnered South Korean biotech

Title

GSK's $2.5 Billion Deal with ABL Bio:
Advancing Neurodegenerative Therapies with Breakthrough Blood-Brain Barrier Technology

Keywords

GSK
ABL Bio
Grabody-B platform
Neurodegenerative diseases
Blood-brain barrier
Alzheimer’s disease
Parkinson’s disease
Bispecific antibodies
Pharmaceutical collaboration
Drug delivery technology

Key Facts

- Partnership Overview:
GSK and ABL Bio have entered a $2.5 billion licensing deal centered on ABL Bio’s Grabody-B platform, a technology that enables effective delivery of drugs across the blood-brain barrier. GSK will front an estimated $50 million upfront and could commit up to $2.5 billion in milestone payments1 9.

- Grabody-B Platform:
This platform utilizes bispecific antibodies targeting the Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 Receptor (IGF1R), which facilitates drug penetration into the brain without disrupting IGF1R signaling. The technology is designed to overcome the blood-brain barrier, a critical obstacle for treating neurological diseases1 9.

- Focus on Neurodegenerative Diseases:
GSK aims to use ABL Bio’s technology to develop treatments for diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The collaboration includes research on antibody-based therapies and oligonucleotides (e.g., siRNA, ASOs) to address the growing prevalence of these conditions7 9.

- GSK’s Strategy in Neuroscience:
This deal aligns with GSK’s broader push into neuroscience. Recent partnerships include agreements with Muna Therapeutics for Alzheimer’s research and Vesalius Therapeutics for Parkinson’s treatments1 4.

- Global Importance of Neurodegenerative Therapies:
With the aging population driving the rise in neurodegenerative diseases, platforms like Grabody-B are critical to developing the next generation of treatments. The success of the GSK-ABL collaboration could set new standards for delivering complex therapeutics across the blood-brain barrier1 9.

- ABL Bio’s Broader Impact:
ABL Bio previously partnered with Sanofi for its ABL301 antibody targeting Parkinson’s disease using the same Grabody-B platform, demonstrating broad applicability in central nervous system disorders2 5.