Lantheus acquires developer of next-generation PET imaging agent for Alzheimer’s
Lantheus Holdings Inc. has acquired the developer of a next-generation imaging agent for Alzheimer’s, the Massachusetts-based pharma company announced Monday.
Meilleur Technologies’ portfolio includes the worldwide exclusive rights to amyloid PET product NAV-4694, also known as F18-flutafuranol. The diagnostic imaging agent is currently in phase 3 development via academic and industry investigational trials.
Lantheus said the acquisition broadens its Alzheimer’s offerings while complementing its own next-generation imaging agent. MK-6240, also known as florquinitau, targets tau tangles in Alzheimer’s disease.
“This acquisition solidifies our commitment to neurology, specifically for Alzheimer’s disease management, and reinforces our radiopharmaceutical leadership,” CEO Brian Markison said in a July 15 announcement. “With the combination of MK-6240 and NAV-4694, we are poised to provide important insights for guiding the use and assessing the impact of novel disease-modifying Alzheimer’s treatments.”
Lantheus will provide an upfront payment to acquire the company, along with additional compensation for hitting certain milestones. It also plans to make royalty payments for research revenue and commercial sales. The deal is structured as a stock purchase, with Meilleur Technologies providing transition and clinical development services for a defined period after the deal closes.
“With Lantheus’ expertise in radiopharmaceutical diagnostics and ability to scale operations, I am confident that Lantheus is the ideal company to bring this late-stage biomarker through pivotal trials and into commercialization to one day benefit patients at risk of Alzheimer’s disease,” Rick Hiatt, CEO of Dublin, Ohio-based Meilleur Technologies, said in the announcement.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.