Portfolio | Alector完成1.33亿美元E轮融资，开发阿尔兹海默症的免疫疗法

2018年7月25日，位于美国南旧金山市的Alector公司宣布成功完成1.33亿美元E轮融资。Alector计划在一年内将把三个针对阿尔兹海默症、额颞叶痴呆的免疫治疗项目推进至临床阶段。

Alector成立于2013年，目前其药物管线拥有16个处于研发和临床前阶段的项目。 公司主要专注两大方向：神经退行性疾病的免疫疗法和癌症的免疫疗法。

阿尔兹海默症（AD）是Alector的主攻方向。目前，绝大多数AD实验疗法靶向Tau缠结或淀粉样蛋白β（A β ）聚集体， 但在中、后期临床试验中屡屡受挫（请参阅金淘沙拣的原创文章）。Alector另辟蹊径，采取与癌症免疫疗法中的检查点抑制剂相类似的策略，利用人脑中的先天免疫细胞——小胶质细胞，来一举多得、消除多种病理表征。

Alector的第一个AD项目是AL002，一个靶向TREM2受体的激活性抗体药。TREM2可以被看作是大脑中的免疫系统的“油门”。激活它能刺激小胶质细胞的繁殖，从而加速清除病变蛋白。

Alector的第二个AD项目是AL003， 一个靶向SIGLEC-3受体的阻断性或抑制性抗体药。SIGLEC-3可以被看作是大脑中的免疫系统的“刹车”， 类似于T细胞表面表达的PD-1 蛋白。通过阻断SIGLEC-3信号传导，AL003解禁了小胶质细胞，帮助它们恢复了“清洁工”的功能。

早在2017年10月24日，Alector和艾伯维公司（AbbVie）就达成协议，合作开发一系列AD和其它神经退行性疾病项目。Alector因此获得了2.05亿美金的首付，将来还有可能收取里程碑付款。 双方将以50：50的比例共同承担开发和商业成本，共同分享全球利润。AL-002和AL-003 两个项目也在这个协议的范围之内。

Alector在一年内有可能进入临床阶段的第三个项目是另一个人源单克隆抗体药AL001。 它针对的适应症是额颞叶痴呆（FTD），靶向一个已被证明能引起FTD的突变蛋白。2018年8月8日，Alector宣布AL001 获得美国FDA的孤儿药指定。

本轮融资共有至少17家投资方参加。除了礼来亚洲基金外，投资方还包括Deerfield Management, AbbVie Ventures, Federated Kaufmann Fund, Section 32, Euclidean Capital, Foresite Capital, New Leaf Venture Partners, Perceptive Advisors, Casdin Capital, Polaris Partners, OrbiMed, MRL Ventures, GV（谷歌下属的投资公司）, the Dementia Discovery Fund, Mission Bay Capital, 和Amgen Ventures。

参考资料：

1.      www.alector.com

2.      Taking ‘a long-term view’: Alector all in on immune-neurology;  $133M series E to advance trio of assets to clinic   Marie Powers / BioWorld  (07/26/2018)

3.      Alector raises $133M in 5^th VC round to push neuro-immunology drugs into Alzheimer’s trials   Canor Hale / FierceBiotech (07/25/2018)

附英文新闻稿：

Alector Announces $133 Million in Series E Financing to Advance Broad Portfolio of Immuno-Neurology and Immuno-Oncology Programs

First three programs to focus on Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., July 25, 2018 — Alector, a privately held biotechnology company focused on developing therapies that harness the immune system to cure neurodegenerative diseases and cancer, today announced the closing of a $133 million Series E financing. The proceeds from the financing will be used to advance Alector’s clinical programs and expand the company’s discovery platform.

Deerfield Management, AbbVie Ventures, Federated Kaufmann Fund, Section 32, Euclidean Capital, Foresite Capital, Lilly Asia Ventures, New Leaf Venture Partners, Perceptive Advisors, Casdin Capital, Polaris Partners, OrbiMed, MRL Ventures, GV, the Dementia Discovery Fund, Mission Bay Capital, Amgen Ventures, and others participated in the financing.

“There has been a lack of new approaches to treat the underlying causes of devastating neurodegenerative diseases such as frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer’s disease,” said Sabah Oney, Ph.D., chief business officer of Alector. “At Alector, we are focused on the advancement of innovative, first-in-class medicines to treat these serious diseases. We are thrilled to have strong support from industry-leading investors, and this financing ensures sufficient resources for the continued development of our novel drug pipeline.”

Recent human genetic studies indicate that the development of neurodegenerative diseases is due in part to a dysfunctional immune system in the brain. Alector is developing immuno-neurology drugs that harness the brain’s immune system to counteract multiple pathologies at the same time. “We anticipate that empowering a patient’s own immune system could provide as much benefit for patients suffering from neurodegeneration as immuno-oncology therapies have demonstrated for cancer patients,” said Arnon Rosenthal, Ph.D., Alector’s chief executive officer.

Guided by these emerging studies, especially with regards to the inherited risk of Alzheimer’s disease, Alector has identified a portfolio of drug candidates that the company believes have the potential to restore normal immune function to the aging brain and counteract neurodegeneration.

Today, Alector announced the intended indications for its first three neurodegenerative disease drug candidates:

• AL001 is being developed for the treatment of FTD. Mutations in AL001’s target protein are known to be causal for FTD.

• AL002 targets a triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2), which is known to contribute to the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.

• AL003 targets SIGLEC-3, a transmembrane receptor expressed on cells of myeloid lineage, which is a known prevalent risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.

“There are currently no FDA-approved treatments that can make a direct impact on the progression of Alzheimer’s disease or FTD,” said Thomas C. Südhof, M.D., Ph.D., professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine and the recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2013. According to Dr. Südhof, an incoming member of Alector’s Scientific Advisory Board, “bold, new ideas are imperative to address these significant patient populations that are in great need of treatment options.”

“At Alector, our focus is on integrating emerging knowledge in human genetics, immunology, neuroscience, oncology, and large data analytics to treat neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. This strategy is paying off with a broad portfolio of programs and strong investor support,” said Dr. Rosenthal.

About Alector, Inc.

Alector is a privately held biotechnology company focused on developing therapies that harness the immune system to cure neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Founded by thought leaders in biotechnology, neuroscience, and antibody drug discovery, Alector is headquartered in South San Francisco, California. For more information, please visit www.alector.com.

Contacts

Media:

1AB

Dan Budwick, 973-271-6085

[e-mail]

Investors:

Alector, Inc.

Sabah Oney, 415-964-5572

[e-mail]

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