Eisai Inc. opened an incubator for research into Alzheimer’s and other diseases as part of its new dementia research center, as it seeks to to bounce back from the failure of experimental drug aducanumab.
Eisai’s new Genetics Guided Dementia Discovery (G2D2) Center, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, will look to leverage its experience in genetics, data sciences and precision chemistry to create medicines that fight dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Eisai, the U.S. subsidiary of the Japan-based pharmaceutical company Eisai Co., will seek to rebound after it and partner Biogen scrapped trials of aducanumab for early dementia earlier this year, after the drug didn’t prove it was slowing cognitive decline.
- “Eisai has demonstrated remarkable commitment and persistence to research potential new treatment options for what has proven to be a very difficult disease to tackle,” said Stuart Schreiber, a professor at the Broad Institute. “G2D2 provides an innovative and collaborative new approach that may ultimately lead to the discovery of next-generation therapeutics to help address the considerable unmet need of Alzheimer’s disease patients and their families.”
- Eisai invested $100 million last year to build the new center.
- Karma Takeaway: With its shift in its approach to dementia cures, Eisai is seeking to show investors it will remain persistent in pursuing cures to cognitive diseases.
