Alector soars as Roche licenses Parkinson's therapy for up to $1.27 billion

Roche Holding AG

05/10/2026 13:06

Oct 5 (Reuters) - Swiss drugmaker Roche ROPC.S will pay up to $1.27 billion to license Alector's ALEC.O experimental treatment for Parkinson's disease, the US biotech said on Monday, sending its shares surging 72% in premarket trading.
Genentech, a unit of Roche, will pay Alector $100 million upfront and up to $1.17 billion more if the treatment reaches development, regulatory and sales targets. Alector is also eligible for royalties.

   
Here are some details:
The agreement grants Genentech exclusive worldwide rights to develop, make and sell AL050, an experimental treatment designed to address a lack of an enzyme linked to Parkinson's disease
Genentech will be responsible for development, regulatory submissions, manufacturing and commercialization of the treatment
AL050 is an enzyme replacement therapy designed to address the deficiency of the GCase enzyme that leads to the buildup of certain fats and a higher risk of Parkinson's disease
The deal is the latest in a series of licensing agreements by Roche as it works to expand its drug pipeline
In June, Roche agreed a licensing and collaboration deal with Nurix Therapeutics NRIX.O worth up to $2.3 billion for a blood cancer drug

 (Reporting by Padmanabhan Ananthan in Bengaluru; Editing by Sahal Muhammed)
 ((Padmanabhan.Ananthan@thomsonreuters.com;))