Ferrer and Prilenia Ink €500M Licensing Deal for ALS and Huntington's Drug Candidate

Dutch biotech Prilenia Therapeutics has entered into a significant licensing agreement with Spanish pharmaceutical company Ferrer, focusing on the development and potential commercialization of pridopidine, Prilenia's sole asset targeting neurodegenerative diseases. The deal, announced on April 28, 2025, is valued at up to €500 million and covers European markets and select undisclosed territories.

Deal Structure and Financial Terms

Under the terms of the agreement, Ferrer will pay Prilenia an upfront sum of €80 million, with the potential for an additional €45 million in near-term development, regulatory, and commercial milestones. The total deal value could reach €500 million (approximately $568 million), including milestone payments and royalties on net sales.

Prilenia will retain full rights to pridopidine in North America, Japan, and the Asia-Pacific region, while collaborating with Ferrer on development and commercialization efforts in Europe and other specified markets.

Clinical Development and Regulatory Status

The partnership will primarily focus on advancing pridopidine for the treatment of Huntington's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A phase 3 ALS trial is slated to begin in early 2026, despite previous setbacks in a phase 2 study where the drug failed to significantly improve ALS disease severity.

Prilenia has already submitted a marketing authorization application to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for pridopidine in Huntington's disease. A decision from the EMA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use is expected in the second half of 2025. Concurrently, discussions with the FDA regarding next steps for Huntington's disease in the U.S. market are ongoing.

Expanding Indications and Future Prospects

Beyond Huntington's disease and ALS, Prilenia is exploring pridopidine's potential in other neurodegenerative conditions. The drug is currently being tested in vanishing white matter disease, a rare inherited genetic disorder. Furthermore, Ferrer has secured first rights to develop pridopidine for additional indications, potentially broadening its therapeutic applications.

Dr. Michael Hayden, CEO of Prilenia, expressed optimism about the partnership, stating, "We believe that this partnership has the potential to accelerate the delivery of pridopidine to the thousands of people who are waiting for a new treatment option as well as broaden its impact through additional indications in the future."

This deal aligns with Ferrer's strategic focus on rare diseases and innovative products, building upon their previous investments in the ALS space. In March 2024, Ferrer committed over $121.7 million for the ex-U.S. rights to Verge Genomics' ALS candidate, currently in a phase 1b proof-of-concept trial.