Late-Stage CNS Drugs Key For Alkermes, But Early-Stage IL-2 Agonist Fascinates

28 Feb 2018

• By John Davis

Immuno-oncology R&D based around an interleukin-2 agonist in early clinical studies has attracted attention to Alkermes, but the CNS disorders specialty company is also concentrating on a new mechanism-of-action antidepressant that is nearing the market, and a new antipsychotic.

Dublin, where Alkermes is headquartered. • Source: Shutterstock

The excitement surrounding the multi-billion-dollar tie up earlier this month between Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and Nektar Therapeutics on a potential new immune-oncology drug, an interleukin-2 agonist, has had a knock-on effect on Ireland/US specialty company, Alkermes PLC, which has just such an agonist in early-stage clinical studies.

Alkermes is currently focused on developing CNS/psychiatry drugs, an area in which it believes it has potential blockbusters in late development. However, companies are always on the lookout for the next breakthrough, and the potential of Alkermes's early-stage IL-2 targeted immuno-oncology (IO) compound, ALKS 4230, was spotlighted during its 2017 earnings call on Feb. 14, the same day that BMS and Nektar announced their collaboration