In its next big neuro deal, AbbVie is betting $65 million — and another $1.95 billion in potential payments — on a platform that aims to achieve the efficacy of psychedelic compounds with fewer side effects.
AbbVie said Monday it will partner with Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals to research and develop a portfolio of neuroplastogens for undisclosed psychiatric disorders. While neuroplastogens differ from psychedelics, Gilgamesh thinks they can achieve similar results in a range of mental health indications without hallucinogenic or dissociative effects, meaning they could be taken outside of a health worker’s supervision.
“This is an at-home medication, which of course has huge benefits for both patient access and convenience of the healthcare system,” Gilgamesh CSO Andrew Kruegel told Endpoints News on Monday. “It’s going to be very hard to deliver psychedelic therapies at scale.”
The $1.95 billion in potential future payments includes option fees and milestones. AbbVie will pay tiered royalties on sales if it chooses to take a program forward. AbbVie declined to comment on its initial focus areas.
The deal marks AbbVie’s second notable investment in neuroscience in recent months. The pharma giant struck an $8.7 billion deal in December to acquire Cerevel, which has mid- and late-stage candidates in schizophrenia, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and dementia-related apathy. That transaction is expected to close this year.
“Psychiatry has been very quiet for quite some time now in terms of big pharma interest,” Gilgamesh’s CBO and head of research Laszlo Kiss said. “It’s wonderful to see the deals that have been struck, ours included.”
Gilgamesh will be responsible for early research and development. If AbbVie decides to exercise an option, it will take responsibility for further development and commercialization. Gilgamesh currently has two programs in the clinic for depression, anxiety and more.
“If these compounds are as revolutionary as we hope, a large organization will help patient access and rollout on a massive scale that’s very difficult to do with these large indications for a small company,” Kruegel said.