The TDR Three Key Takeaways regarding AbbVie and Gilgamesh:
- Gilgamesh and AbbVie join forces to tackle innovative mental health therapies.
- Gilgamesh could earn up to $1.95 billion with milestones and royalties.
- AbbVie and Gilgamesh set to redefine mental health treatment standards.
AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) and Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals today announced a partnership and an option-to-license agreement focused on developing next-generation therapies for psychiatric disorders. This collaboration aims to leverage AbbVie’s experience in biopharmaceutical innovation with Gilgamesh’s advanced neuroplastogen research, marking a new chapter in the treatment of mental health conditions.
As part of the agreement, both AbbVie and Gilgamesh will engage in the research and development of a range of innovative therapeutics aimed at treating psychiatric disorders. Should AbbVie decide to proceed, it will take the lead on both development and commercialization efforts. Gilgamesh stands to receive an initial payment of $65 million from AbbVie, with the potential to earn up to $1.95 billion in combined option fees and milestone payments. Additionally, Gilgamesh is poised to earn royalties ranging from mid-single to low-double digits based on net sales.
Gilgamesh’s Chief Executive Officer, Jonathan Sporn, M.D., expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are thrilled to partner with AbbVie, a global pharmaceutical company with a focus on innovation in psychiatric care, to address the pressing challenges in mental health treatment. Our collaboration will pioneer research into a new generation of therapies that hold great potential for improving patient outcomes.” This alliance underscores the commitment of both companies to advance care in a field that desperately needs innovative approaches.
AbbVie and Gilgamesh’s partnership specifically aims at exploring novel neuroplastogens—compounds that promote the growth and repair of nervous tissue—which could lead to significant advancements in psychiatric treatments. Jonathon Sedgwick, Ph.D., senior vice president and global head of discovery research at AbbVie, highlighted the urgency and necessity of this focus. “Significant unmet needs remain for people living with psychiatric disorders and we know that to innovate in this field, we need to explore new technologies and approaches,” Sedgwick explained. “We look forward to working with Gilgamesh’s world-class team to advance the development of novel neuroplastogens and pave the way for new treatment approaches in psychiatry.”
The partnership is strategic in its timing and scope, aiming at a rapid development cycle to bring these promising therapies from the laboratory to clinical trials. The option-to-license agreement also reflects a significant commitment by AbbVie to invest in and potentially commercialize the innovative treatments developed through this collaboration.
The collaboration between AbbVie and Gilgamesh represents a major investment in mental health and signals a shift in the pharmaceutical industry toward advanced treatments for psychiatric disorders. Together, they aim to improve treatments and set new standards for innovation in mental health care. Want to keep up to date with all of TDR’s research and news, subscribe to our daily Baked In newsletter.