J&J Terminates Partnership with Addex Therapeutics, Swiss Biotech Regains Control of Epilepsy Drug

Johnson & Johnson has officially ended its collaboration with Swiss biotech company Addex Therapeutics, marking a significant shift in the development of a once-promising epilepsy treatment. This decision comes nine months after J&J initially stepped back from the partnership following disappointing phase 2 trial results.

Partnership Dissolution and Asset Reacquisition

The partnership, which dates back to 2004, centered around ADX71149, a positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of metabotropic glutamate receptor-2. Initially developed for epilepsy treatment, the drug failed to meet its primary endpoint in a midstage trial involving 110 evaluable patients with focal onset seizures.

Addex CEO Tim Dyer expressed optimism about regaining control of ADX71149, stating, "We are excited to regain control of its development from our partner with its high quality data package and significant material." The company is now evaluating potential therapeutic indications for the program and engaging in discussions with prospective partners.

Implications for Addex Therapeutics

Despite the setback with J&J, Addex maintains a partnership with Indivior, established through a $330 million biobucks deal last summer. This collaboration focuses on developing a GABAB PAM candidate for substance use disorders.

Addex is also prioritizing its in-house pipeline, particularly dipraglurant, a mGlu5 negative allosteric modulator. The company is exploring its potential in brain injury recovery, including post-stroke and traumatic brain injury treatments.

Industry Outlook and Future Directions

The dissolution of the J&J-Addex partnership highlights the challenges faced in drug development, particularly in the neurological space. However, Addex's continued pursuit of partnerships and focus on its internal pipeline demonstrate the company's resilience and adaptability in the face of setbacks.

As the pharmaceutical landscape continues to evolve, companies like Addex are increasingly looking to diversify their portfolios and explore new therapeutic areas. The coming months will likely reveal more about Addex's plans for ADX71149 and the potential impact of this development on the broader epilepsy treatment market.