Just days after partnering with AstraZeneca’s rare disease unit, Japan-based JCR Pharmaceuticals has signed a new $555 million biobucks deal with Acumen Pharmaceuticals to tackle Alzheimer’s disease. The partnership will combine Acumen’s amyloid beta oligomer-targeting antibodies with JCR’s J-Brain Cargo®, a proprietary blood-brain barrier-penetrating platform.
The collaboration, currently in early-stage discussions, will explore the delivery of Acumen-developed antibodies via J-Brain Cargo. These antibodies are highly selective for toxic amyloid beta oligomers (AβOs), which are believed to play a central role in the progression of Alzheimer’s.
Acumen, based in Massachusetts, is already evaluating Sabirnetug in a phase 2 trial for patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s, with topline data expected in late 2026.
Under the terms of the agreement, JCR will receive an upfront payment (undisclosed), and stands to earn up to $40 million in development milestones and $515 million in sales-based milestones, along with tiered royalties. Acumen also has the option to develop and commercialize up to two therapeutics born from the collaboration.
“The cooperation with JCR will allow us to explore a powerful and potentially transformative approach to delivering Alzheimer’s therapies,” said Acumen CEO Daniel O’Connell. “Combining our AβO-selective antibody with JCR’s proven delivery platform could lead to a differentiated treatment for patients living with this devastating disease.”
J-Brain Cargo works via receptor-mediated transcytosis, enabling biologics to cross the blood-brain barrier by binding to receptors on endothelial gatekeeper cells. Once engaged, these receptors engulf and transport the therapeutic payload across the barrier to target areas in the central nervous system.
JCR CEO Shin Ashida emphasized the broader significance of the deal: “This partnership not only advances a promising Alzheimer’s treatment strategy but also reinforces J-Brain Cargo as a scalable, clinically validated delivery platform for CNS disorders.”
JCR has been building momentum in the CNS space since 2023, when Alexion (an AstraZeneca unit) began exploring the platform for neurodegenerative therapies. The company’s portfolio in Japan includes Izcargo® for Hunter syndrome, Growject® (a growth hormone), and the pioneering J-Brain Cargo® technology.
