H. Lundbeck A/S and Contera Pharma have announced a strategic research collaboration aimed at developing RNA-based medicines for serious neurological disorders with high unmet medical needs.
The partnership will focus on exploring novel RNA-targeting treatment approaches using Contera’s proprietary RNA discovery platforms — AttackPoint discovery®, OligoDisc®, and SpliceMatrix® — alongside Lundbeck’s extensive neuroscience expertise accumulated over more than 70 years.
The alliance is part of Lundbeck’s broader strategy to expand its research pipeline through external innovation. By incorporating RNA therapeutics into its portfolio, the company aims to remain at the forefront of drug development in brain health, especially in the area of neurodegeneration.
“Partnering with Contera provides us with the opportunity to expand our pipeline with RNA-targeting candidates that can result in entirely new treatments,” said Tarek Samad, Senior Vice President and Head of Research at Lundbeck. “The collaboration perfectly supports our aim to deliver therapies for patients with serious neurological conditions where few or no options exist today.”
Klaus Simonsen, Vice President and Head of External Research and Innovation at Lundbeck, noted that early-stage partnerships are a key part of the company’s innovation strategy. “By embracing RNA therapeutics through our collaboration with Contera, we are strengthening our pipeline and ensuring that we remain at the cutting edge of scientific progress in brain health.”
Contera Pharma will apply its RNA expertise to identify and optimize therapeutic candidates with disease-modifying potential. Under the agreement, Contera will receive an upfront payment and full research funding for each target, and is eligible for milestone payments tied to preclinical, clinical, regulatory, and commercial progress. The company will also receive tiered royalties on future net sales of any successful products.
Søren Vestergaard Rasmussen, Chief Scientific Officer of Contera, highlighted the promise of the company’s platforms, saying, “This collaboration highlights the strength of our RNA platform and our ability to translate cutting-edge science into transformative therapies.”
Thomas Sager, CEO of Contera, added, “This agreement validates our RNA discovery engine and will accelerate our mission to deliver innovative medicines to patients with high unmet needs. By joining forces with Lundbeck, we can create strong synergies and advance the potential of oligonucleotide therapeutics.”
The collaboration reflects growing interest in RNA-targeting approaches as a new frontier in treating complex neurological diseases.