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Translational Research Office (TRO)

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Joint Strategic Alliance on Neuroscience Research

The TRO has provided contractual, operational and ongoing alliance management of the strategic collaboration between UCL and Eisai.

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10 February 2022

Unmet Need

Neurodegenerative diseases present one of the major medical, scientific, societal, and financial challenges of our time. According to The Alzheimer’s Society there are 850,000 people with dementia in the UK, with numbers set to double in the next 20 years. There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease or any other type of dementia.

Research Advancement

Building upon a long history of collaboration, Eisai and UCL formed a strategic alliance in 2012 with a shared commitment to drive several early stage projects to identify and validate novel drug targets across key processes involved in neurodegeneration. The combination of UCL’s world-class research in neurodegenerative diseases and expertise in clinical translation coupled with Eisai’s drug discovery and development capabilities has enabled the first drug candidate from the collaboration to enter Phase 1 clinical trials in 2019. 

How we helped

Working closely with investigators from across the Faculties of Life and Medical Sciences, the Business & Innovation Group within the TRO has provided contractual, operational and ongoing alliance management of the collaboration. Targeted efforts have resulted in the launch of seven early drug discovery projects (4 currently active), recruitment of a team of five scientists at UCL supported through the £9M cash investment with significant in-kind contribution from both parties. 

Sustained Engagement

The collaboration continues to generate results enabling researchers to publish and present findings to a wider scientific audience at international conferences. A unique partnership model ensures all parties are equally represented at every level. Overseeing the entire collaboration is a joint committee comprising of senior leadership, experienced scientists and project leaders from both organisations. Eisai’s UK team also works closely with affiliate sites in the USA and Japan to apply specialist knowledge and technologies to support the collaborative projects.  We look forward to continuing to support the alliance during this exciting time as we continue to progress our first clinical asset.

We are proud that our alliance with UCL has instigated a number of diverse research projects and led to the first drug candidate from the collaboration entering Phase 1 clinical trials. This achievement would not have been possible without the unique collaboration model we have built based on a continued exchange of ideas, and sharing of expertise and resources. The TRO plays an essential role in ensuring the smooth running of the alliance" - Andy Takle, Head, Hatfield Research Laboratories, Eisai