By Nuala Moran

BioWorld International Correspondent

LONDON - NeuroSearch A/S signed a deal worth a potential $57 million, plus royalties, with Glaxo Wellcome plc for the antidepressant NS2389, currently in Phase II studies. The agreement includes an $10 million up-front payment.

NS2389 is NeuroSearch's attempt to improve on existing drugs that block the re-uptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin. In addition to serotonin, NS2389 blocks re-uptake of two other neurotransmitters, noradrenaline and dopamine.

Speaking at a teleconference, Jorgen Buus Lassen, president and CEO of NeuroSearch, based in Glostrup, Denmark, said, "Sales of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors reached $10 billion last year. They have a good profile, but are not optimal in their therapeutic effect. One-third of patients do not respond, and the onset of action is slow. We have worked to improve this profile, and believe that NS2389 will be a better antidepressant with a faster onset of action."

Richard Wallace, VP in charge of neurology and psychiatry products at Glaxo Wellcome, said, "The triple action profile offers the hope of greater efficacy with equal, or better, tolerability than selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors and selective noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitors."

Buus Lassen noted that in Phase I there was no evidence of nausea, one of the side effects that limits the suitability of existing drugs.

A few small Phase II trials have been conducted to date, from which the data are "promising." The full Phase II program is yet to be finalized. "We could do a number of studies, against placebo and active drugs, and it is not decided yet. We expect to start Phase III next year," Buus Lassen said.

NeuroSearch approached a number of potential partners with NS2389, he said. "The main reason we chose Glaxo Wellcome was because we really have a good impression of their R&D staff and their commitment to this. We are very satisfied with the terms, both under development and launching the product in the market."

There is no danger of the agreement being put aside by the merger of Glaxo Wellcome with SmithKline Beecham, Buus Lassen said. "We did discuss this before signing and were told it won't have any effect. At present I think the effect of the merger will be neutral, and in the future it could strengthen the marketing of the product."