Mission Therapeutics and AbbVie Sign DUBs Collaboration in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease

Mission Therapeutics and the AbbVie biopharmaceutical firm have announced a joint venture to research and preclinically develop specified deubiquitylating enzyme (DUB) inhibitors for the treatment of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, reports the Associated Press . DUBs significantly contribute to cell health by regulating the degradation of misfolded, toxic proteins. AbbVie and Mission hope to modulate certain DUBs in the brain to develop potential therapeutics that facilitate the degradation of these proteins and prevent their buildup. Under the terms of their agreement, both parties will collaborate during the research phase to identify specific DUBs and find suitable compounds, after which AbbVie will have the option to gain exclusive rights to develop and commercialize DUB inhibitors against up to four selected targets. Mission will receive an upfront license fee and also is eligible to receive success-based milestone payments and royalty payments for each commercialized product. "Mission's scientists have developed impressive early research toward the understanding of these diseases," said AbbVie's James Summers. "Together, we will work to advance this early science and develop meaningful therapies."