Accera Enters into a Strategic Partnership and Exclusive Licensing Agreement with DuChemBio for Accera's Technology in Korea
BOULDER, Colo. and SEOUL, South Korea, July 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Accera, Inc. and DuChemBio Co. Ltd announced today that the companies have entered into a strategic partnership and exclusive licensing agreement whereby DuChemBio will obtain rights to develop, obtain regulatory approval and commercialize products in South Korea using Accera's medium chain triglyceride technology.
Accera, a leading CNS therapeutic company, is focused on pioneering novel therapeutic approaches to treat neurodegenerative diseases caused by metabolic deficiencies. Regional decreases in cerebral glucose metabolism are associated with aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Accera has developed proprietary technology based on medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) that provides the brain with ketone bodies, a natural alternative fuel to glucose. The company's lead program, AC-1204, is currently in Phase 3 clinical development as a drug for Alzheimer's patients.
Dementia including AD is a serious and growing problem in Korea. According to 2015 data reported by the Korean Health Insurance and Reimbursement Agency (HIRA), about 10% of the 6.5 million Koreans over the age of 65 have been diagnosed with dementia; 450,000 of these patients are suffering from AD. DuChemBio expects the number of AD patients to double by the year 2025. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), considered a precursor stage of AD with some 50 -75% of the patients developing AD within 5 years, represents a further, rapidly growing segment.
DuChemBio Korea has been active in the field of neurodegenerative diseases since 2012, primarily through manufacturing and commercialization of nuclear medicine diagnostics (molecular tracers for PET/CT imaging) for the early and precise diagnosis of Parkinson's and AD patients. Since 2015, DuChemBio works closely with nuclear medicine physicians and neurologists to establish beta-amyloid PET imaging and has acquired market leadership with 18F Florbetaben licensed from Piramal Imaging.
"The strategic partnership with Accera to develop and introduce medical products based on Accera's MCT technology in South Korea represents a major milestone in the evolution of DuChemBio towards a fully integrated healthcare company providing imaging and therapeutic solutions for this devastating brain disease," said JongWoo Kim, CEO and President of DuChemBio, stated at a signing ceremony held on June 26 in Seoul.
"The partnership with DuChemBio is an important milestone for Accera," said Dr. Charles Stacey, President and CEO of Accera. "Asia is a key market for Accera. We are very pleased to be establishing the first of our Asian partnerships with this leading group. Leveraging DuChemBio's expertise in diagnostics in AD and its relationships with neurologists and dementia experts in Korea will help Accera forward its novel approach to Alzheimer's disease in Asia."
About Accera
Accera, Inc. is a CNS therapeutics company based in Boulder, Colorado. The company's proprietary scientific platform addresses unmet medical needs in brain health, including Alzheimer's disease. Accera is focused on the clinical development of drugs with innovative mechanisms of actions. The company's management team includes globally recognized specialists in central nervous system diseases and drug development, who together leverage the latest scientific knowledge and understanding of neurological disorders. Accera's lead candidate is AC-1204, a small molecule drug compound in Phase 3 clinical development in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. For more information, visit www.accerapharma.com or follow Accera on Twitter at twitter.com/accerainc.
About DuChemBio
("toward a better healthcare and patient management!")
DuChemBio Co. Ltd has been established in 2002 as a private company registered in Seoul, South Korea. The company is dedicated to the development, supply and commercialization of PET radio-pharmaceutical technology and tracers in South Korea. DuChemBio develops and markets PET solutions that allow for an early and most accurate diagnosis of life-threatening diseases like cancer, Parkinson Syndrome and Alzheimer's disease. The company cooperates with radio-pharmaceutical and imaging companies in Asia-Pacific, Western Europe and North America to make its technologies and products available internationally and in-license synergistic technologies and products to broaden its product portfolio in South Korea. DuChemBio, through its subsidiary CiCo Healthcare, serves as the distribution agent in South Korea for Siemens' in-vitro diagnostics equipment and reagent kits.
DuChemBio is advised in their international partnering activities by BGM Associates GmbH, a Strategy and Transactions Advisory based in Berlin, Germany (www.bgmassociates.com).
Accera, Inc.
C. Evan Ballantyne
VP and Chief Financial Officer
303-999-3740
401-215-6003 (mobile)
DuChemBio / BGM Associates Media Contacts:
JongWoo Kim
CEO and President
DuChemBio Co. Ltd
email: [email protected]
cell phone: +82 10 5343 8929
Friedrich W. Gause
Partner and Managing Director
BGM Associates GmbH
email: [email protected]
cell phone: +49 151 6111 7334
SOURCE Accera, Inc.
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