Lundback swallows migraine drug maker Alder

Alder’s first-in-class monoclonal antibody for migraine prevention, eptinezumab, targets the calcitonin gene-related peptide and faces FDA registration for the US market by Q1/2020. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a neuropeptide hypothesised to play a key role in mediating and initiating migraines. Upon activation of trigeminal nerves, CGRP is released and triggers neurogenic inflammation.

Under the deal, Lundbeck will pay US$18 (€16.3) upfront per Alder share. The Danish drug maker will add US$2 per share when eptinezumab also gets EU market authorisation, where Amgen/Novartis AG (erenumab-aooe), Eli Lilly (galcanezumab-gnlm) and Teva (fremanezumab-vfrm) have similar drugs on the market. However, while these are administered once monthly subcutanously, eptinezumab is dosed intravenously once every three months.

"Migraine prevention is an attractive indication for us that leverages our specialised commercial expertise in delivering medicines for brain diseases,” commented Lundbeck CEO and President Deborah Dunsire. "We expect the global launch of eptinezumab for the preventive treatment of migraine, as well as the further potential development of the product in additional indications, to accelerate Lundbeck’s growth in the coming years.”

There is also an additional preclinical migraine mAb in Alder’s pipeline: ALD1910 targets an adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide for migraine prevention.