Swiss pharma group teams up with US biotech to fight Alzheimer’s disease

Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis has signed a major collaboration agreement with SciNeuro Pharmaceuticals to jointly develop a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, the companies announced.

Under the terms of the deal, SciNeuro will receive an upfront payment of $165 million from Novartis. The agreement also includes milestone-based payments that could total up to $1.5 billion, depending on progress in the development, regulatory approval, marketing and commercialisation of products arising from the partnership, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media. 

As part of the agreement, Novartis will obtain a licence to SciNeuro’s research programme focused on identifying antibodies that target beta-amyloid, a protein widely believed to play a key role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease when it accumulates in the brain. The programme also incorporates proprietary technology designed to deliver antibodies across the blood–brain barrier, a major challenge in treating neurological conditions.

Robert Baloch, Head of Neurology Biomedical Research at Novartis, said the collaboration reflects the company’s commitment to addressing unmet medical needs.

“There is an urgent need for new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological disorders,” he said.

The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026, subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions.

By Sabina Mammadli