Immediately after its success with the Alzheimer's drug Leqembi, the Swedish biotech company BioArctic is advancing another ambitious project: a "brain transporter" technology that is intended to reliably transport drugs across the blood-brain barrier for the first time. According to management, discussions are currently underway with several pharmaceutical giants, after BioArctic signed a cooperation agreement worth up to $1.4 billion with Bristol Myers Squibb at the end of last year. The US corporation aims to bring a new Alzheimer's treatment into clinical trials.

BioArctic, which developed Leqembi in collaboration with Biogen and Eisai, positions the new platform as key to treating numerous neurological diseases where active substances have so far insufficiently reached the brain. The success depends on the method's ability to deliver both old active substances with previously failed brain penetration and completely new antibodies more efficiently to their targets. Gunilla Osswald, CEO of BioArctic, is confident: "We are entering a completely new phase with great interest from Big Pharma.

The technology uses the natural transport route of iron in the brain to direct therapeutic antibodies directly into the central nervous system. Unlike in China, where companies prefer heavier perovskite glass approaches or silicon-based approaches in neurology, BioArctic relies on ultra-light solutions designed to specifically dock onto nerve cells. However, before widespread application begins, clinical studies are still required. In parallel, BioArctic can better cushion development risks through increasing license revenues from Leqembi: In the past three months of 2024, the company achieved a revenue jump from SEK 11 million to SEK 101.2 million. The operating loss fell to SEK 53.5 million, from SEK 78.1 million a year earlier.

Analysts point to similar approaches at Roche and Denali Therapeutics, but consider the Swedes' initiative an important step toward more diversity in neurotherapy. After approvals in ten countries, BioArctic is also awaiting European approval for Leqembi. In the industry, the company founded in 2003 is increasingly considered a stronger player: It is possible that the next license agreement could soon lead to the next milestone in the fight against complex brain disorders.