UCB has completed its acquisition of Neurona Therapeutics in a deal worth up to US$1.15 billion, expanding its epilepsy portfolio and marking a strategic move into regenerative medicine and cell-based therapies.
The transaction includes an upfront payment of US$650 million, with up to US$500 million in additional milestone payments. UCB said the acquisition aligns with its long-term commitment to developing innovative treatments for people living with epilepsy and other neurological disorders.
Central to the acquisition is rezanecel, Neurona’s lead investigational cell therapy, which is currently being evaluated in a Phase I/II clinical study for drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. The therapy is designed to replace inhibitory interneurons lost or impaired in epilepsy, with the aim of restoring neural circuit balance and potentially modifying disease progression rather than solely controlling symptoms.
The acquisition builds on UCB’s more than 30 years of experience in epilepsy research and treatment. The company said the addition of rezanecel supports its ambition to expand beyond conventional anti-seizure medicines and explore next-generation approaches that could offer longer-term therapeutic benefits.
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Drug-resistant epilepsy remains a significant unmet clinical need, with many patients continuing to experience seizures despite available pharmacological treatments. Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy is among the most common forms of focal epilepsy and is frequently associated with treatment resistance.
UCB stated that the acquisition accelerates its entry into advanced therapeutic modalities, including regenerative science and cell therapy, areas that are increasingly attracting interest as potential disease-modifying strategies in neurology.
Rezanecel remains an investigational therapy and has not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration or other regulatory authorities.
This news item has been summarised using AI and checked by humans before publication.
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