US-based radiopharmaceuticals company Lantheus has acquired diagnostics and technology developer Meilleur Technologies, to expand its Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pipeline.
Through the acquisition, Lantheus gets exclusive global rights to Meilleur’s beta-amyloid PET (positron emission tomography) imaging agent, NAV-4694, also known as F18-flutafuranol.
The PET imaging agent is currently in Phase 3 development and is also being used in investigational therapeutic trials by academicians and industry professionals.
Lantheus said that the acquisition will widen its AD diagnostics portfolio and complement its next-gen F18-labeled PET imaging agent candidate, MK-6240 (florquinitau), which targets tau tangles in AD.
Lantheus CEO Brian Markison said: “This acquisition solidifies our commitment to neurology, specifically for Alzheimer’s disease management, and reinforces our radiopharmaceutical leadership.
“With the combination of MK-6240 and NAV-4694, we are poised to provide important insights for guiding the use and assessing the impact of novel disease-modifying Alzheimer’s treatments.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Lantheus will provide an upfront payment along with potential additional development and commercial milestone payments.
In addition, the radiopharmaceutical company will also make royalty payments for research revenue and commercial sales.
Upon closing of the transaction, which is structured as a stock purchase, Meilleur will provide transition and clinical development services for a prescribed period.
Chestnut Partners served as exclusive financial adviser and Goodwin Procter as legal adviser to Meilleur, while Foley Hoag served as legal adviser to Lantheus on this transaction.
Meilleur Technologies CEO Rick Hiatt said: “We are excited by the potential of NAV-4694 for earlier identification of Alzheimer’s patients, empowering clinicians to select suitable candidates for timely therapeutic interventions.
“With Lantheus’ expertise in radiopharmaceutical diagnostics and ability to scale operations, I am confident that Lantheus is the ideal company to bring this late-stage biomarker through pivotal trials and into commercialisation to one day benefit patients at risk of Alzheimer’s disease.”
