US drugmaker Merck has bought an exclusive global licence from Japan’s Teijin Pharma to develop, manufacture and commercialize an investigational preclinical antibody candidate targeting the protein tau.

Changes in tau are associated with a number of diseases affecting the nervous system, including Alzheimer’s disease. Merck said the antibody will complement its current portfolio of candidates in this area.

Financial details were not disclosed but Merck will make an upfront payment to Teijin Pharma, which is also eligible to receive development, regulatory and sales milestone payments. The Osaka-headquartered firm will also get royalties on product sales and retains an option to co-promote an approved product in Japan.

 “Teijin Pharma scientists have made important progress to advance this investigational anti-tau antibody to this stage of development,” said Darryle Schoepp, vice president of neuroscience discovery at Merck Research Laboratories. “Merck remains committed to developing meaningful therapeutic options for the treatment of Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases.” Akihisa Nabeshima, Teijin Pharma’s president, added that Merck’s strong neuroscience expertise made it well suited to maximize the candidate’s potential.