Acumen Pharmaceuticals has entered a partnership, option and licence agreement with JCR Pharmaceuticals to develop an oligomer-targeted enhanced brain delivery (EBD) therapy to treat Alzheimer’s disease.
The combination of sabirnetug or another new amyloid-beta oligomer (AβO)-selective antibodies with JCR’s blood-brain barrier (BBB)-penetrating technology, known as J-Brain Cargo, will reinforce Acumen’s portfolio of therapies targeted at AβOs.
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These developments are directed towards providing improved treatment options for individuals affected by Alzheimer’s disease, focusing on enhanced safety, efficacy and convenience.
J-Brain Cargo technology is designed to deliver drugs for targeting tissues, including the central nervous system using receptor-mediated transcytosis.
It is applied across therapeutic modalities including antibodies, gene and cell therapies, enzymes, oligonucleotides, lipid nanoparticles, peptides and decoy receptors.
The first drug developed employing this technology has received approval in Japan for treating a lysosomal storage disorder.
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By GlobalDataIn the 12 months to July 2025, Acumen and JCR have conducted feasibility studies assessing their combined technologies targeting transferrin receptors alongside Acumen’s AβO-specific antibodies.
Their efforts include exploring other oligomer-specific antibodies from Acumen’s library to identify potential lifecycle opportunities beyond sabirnetug alone.
Anticipated next steps involve generating preclinical candidate data packages, which will include non-human primate studies expected in early 2026. Following these outcomes, Acumen holds exclusive rights to develop up to two development candidates.
JCR will receive an upfront payment along with potential future payments based on developmental milestones achieved during the stages of commercialisation.
The company may also earn single-digit percentage royalties from sales of any products resulting from this collaboration.
Acumen CEO Daniel O’Connell stated: “We are thrilled to enter into this collaboration pairing Acumen’s AβO-targeted antibody expertise with JCR’s validated proprietary BBB-penetrating technology after completion of a number of feasibility experiments with JCR over the past year.
“Coupling Acumen’s differentiated mechanistic approach using AβO-preferring antibodies with JCR’s innovative transferrin BBB-delivery platform may support the advancement of an exciting next-generation therapeutic option for this area of significant unmet need.”
