UCB Pharma (formerly Union Chimique Belge) is a Belgian multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. Founded in 1928, UCB has evolved from a chemistry company into a major player in neurology and immunology. The company is particularly known for its focus on severe diseases in neurology and immunology, including epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease.
Bepranemab (also known as UCB0107) is UCB's lead tau-targeted therapeutic candidate. It is a monoclonal antibody designed to target the mid-domain region of tau protein, specifically residues 235-246. This region is highly conserved and involved in the cell-to-cell propagation of tau pathology.
Bepranemab targets the microtubule-binding region (MTBR) of tau, which is more directly involved in:
This distinguishes bepranemab from first-generation anti-tau antibodies that targeted the N-terminal region of tau (e.g., gosuranemab, tilavonemab, zagotenemab), which showed biomarker engagement but failed to demonstrate clinical efficacy.
Phase 2a TOGETHER Trial
The TOGETHER trial was a Phase 2a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating bepranemab in participants with progressive supranuclear palsy. Results were presented at the Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease (CTAD) conference in 2024.
The failure of the primary endpoint in PSP adds to the challenges facing tau immunotherapy approaches, though UCB continues to analyze the data for potential subgroups that may benefit.
| Compound | Indication | Mechanism | Phase | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bepranemab | PSP | Anti-tau mid-domain antibody | Phase 2a | Completed |
Bepranemab's target epitope (residues 235-246) is distinct from earlier anti-tau antibodies:
UCB has a broad neuroscience portfolio beyond tau:
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Brussels, Belgium |
| Founded | 1928 |
| CEO | Jean-Christophe Tellier |
| Revenue | ~€5.5 billion |
| Employees | ~8,000 |
UCB's R&D focuses on: