This week’s Neuroscience update highlights regulatory progress, biomarker-based monitoring advances, early clinical development, rare disease momentum, and new partnership activity across CNS disorders.
In Today’s Newsletter
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🧠 Lundbeck expands AAN 2026 neurology slate [1] [13 Apr 2026]
https://news.cision.com/h–lundbeck-a-s/r/lundbeck-to-showcase-new-neurology-data-at-the-american-academy-of-neurology-annual-meeting,c4333712
Context: The package includes Phase 1 safety and tolerability data for bocunebart, real-world and post-hoc VYEPTI analyses, and 12-month PACIFIC open-label extension results for bexicaserin.
Key point: Lundbeck will present seven abstracts across bocunebart, VYEPTI (eptinezumab), bexicaserin, and multiple system atrophy at AAN 2026.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.
🩸 Roche wins CE mark for Elecsys NfL in RRMS [2] [EU • 13 Apr 2026]
https://www.roche.com/media/releases/med-cor-2026-04-13
Context: The test is positioned as a minimally invasive complement to MRI and routine clinical assessment, and runs on cobas instruments.
Key point: Roche’s Elecsys Neurofilament Light Chain blood test received CE mark approval for detecting neuroinflammation in adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
Implication: May expand screening, initiation, and follow-up at scale.
🎯 Plus Therapeutics gains orphan status for REYOBIQ in pediatric gliomas [3] [US • 08 Apr 2026]
https://www.manilatimes.net/2026/04/08/tmt-newswire/globenewswire/plus-therapeutics-granted-us-fda-orphan-drug-designation-to-reyobiq-in-pediatric-malignant-gliomas/2316294
Context: The company said the designation scope was broader than requested and includes pediatric ependymoma; REYOBIQ is being developed for CNS cancers.
Key point: Plus Therapeutics said the FDA granted orphan drug designation to REYOBIQ (rhenium Re186 obisbemeda) for pediatric malignant gliomas.
Implication: Introduces regulatory advantages that may support development and future market positioning.
🧬 Dyno and Astellas advance AI-designed AAV capsids for muscle delivery [4] [08 Apr 2026]
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260408079855/en/Dyno-Therapeutics-Announces-Capsid-License-Exercised-by-Astellas-for-Skeletal-Muscle-Targeted-Gene-Delivery-Validating-AI-Powered-Technology-for-Biological-Sequence-Design
Context: Dyno said it will receive a $15 million fee, plus potential milestones and royalties, under the companies’ 2021 collaboration.
Key point: Astellas exercised its option to license a Dyno Therapeutics AAV capsid for skeletal muscle-targeted gene delivery.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.
🧪 Galmed reports brain-penetrating Aramchol formulation for synucleinopathies [5] [Israel • 09 Apr 2026]
https://galmedpharma.investorroom.com/2026-04-09-Galmed-Announces-the-Breakthrough-Development-of-a-Brain-Penetrating-New-Formulation-of-its-SCD1-inhibitor,-Aramchol
Context: The company linked the program to SCD1 inhibition and said in-vitro work showed dose-dependent reduction of α-synuclein aggregation; a PoC Ph1b/2 study in Parkinson disease is planned for H2 2026, subject to regulatory advice.
Key point: Galmed announced a new lipid nanoparticle formulation of Aramchol designed to cross the blood-brain barrier.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.
💊 AbbVie licenses two NaV1.8 acute pain assets from Haisco [6] [13 Apr 2026]
https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/abbvie-inks-715m-deal-chinese-biotech-haisco-two-acute-pain-assets
Context: The assets target NaV1.8; HSK55718 is in Phase 1 in China and HSK51155 is preclinical, according to the report.
Key point: AbbVie licensed ex-China rights to HSK55718 and HSK51155 from Haisco for acute pain, with $30 million upfront and potential milestones.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.
🧬 Quiver Bioscience secures funding for Dup15q ASO program [7] [US • 13 Apr 2026]
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260413044088/en/Quiver-Bioscience-Receives-Strategic-Investment-From-the-Porta-Family-to-Advance-UBE3A-ASO-Therapeutic-Program-for-Dup15q-Syndrome
Context: The funding will support preclinical safety and tolerability studies aimed at development candidate selection in 2H 2026.
Key point: Quiver Bioscience received a strategic investment from the Porta family to advance its UBE3A antisense oligonucleotide program for Dup15q syndrome.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.
🤝 Samjin and Ewha hospital team up on CNS and migraine R&D [8] [South Korea • 13 Apr 2026]
https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-science/2026/04/13/7R23FR5KPBHLFIYPZUIPFG3BGI/ Context: Samjin will handle early drug discovery and preclinical work, while the hospital will contribute clinical expertise and disease-mechanism validation.
Key point: Samjin Pharmaceutical signed an MOU with Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital for joint research on CNS therapies, including migraine.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.
Why it Matters
- Neuroinflammation and biomarker-led monitoring continue to move closer to routine practice, highlighted by Roche’s CE-marked NfL test in RRMS [2].
- Migraine remains active across both biologics and partnerships, with Lundbeck expanding clinical visibility at AAN and Samjin building earlier-stage research capacity [1][8].
- Rare CNS disorders continue to attract targeted capital and regulatory support, including REYOBIQ in pediatric gliomas and Quiver’s Dup15q ASO program [3][7].
- Delivery technology is a recurring theme, from Dyno’s AI-designed AAV capsids to Galmed’s blood-brain barrier formulation work [4][5].
- Deal activity remains strong around non-opioid pain and platform-enabled assets, with AbbVie adding NaV1.8 candidates from Haisco [6].
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FAQ
What is new from Lundbeck at AAN 2026?
Lundbeck is bringing seven abstracts across migraine, developmental and epileptic encephalopathies, and multiple system atrophy. The package includes bocunebart Phase 1 data, VYEPTI analyses, and 12-month bexicaserin extension results [1].
What does Roche’s Elecsys NfL CE mark cover?
The CE mark covers use of the blood test to detect neuroinflammation in adults diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Roche positions it as a complement to MRI and clinical assessment, not a replacement [2].
Why does orphan drug designation matter for REYOBIQ?
For Plus Therapeutics, the FDA designation may provide development and commercial incentives if the product is later approved. The company also said the granted scope includes pediatric ependymoma [3].
What did Astellas license from Dyno Therapeutics?
Astellas exercised an option to license a Dyno-designed AAV capsid aimed at skeletal muscle delivery. Dyno said this brings a $15 million fee, with milestone and royalty potential under the existing collaboration [4].
What stage is Quiver’s Dup15q program at?
Quiver said the new investment will fund preclinical safety and tolerability work to support development candidate selection in 2H 2026. The program is an ASO approach designed to reduce excess UBE3A expression in Dup15q syndrome [7].
What did AbbVie get from Haisco?
AbbVie obtained ex-China rights to two NaV1.8 inhibitor assets for acute pain, one intravenous candidate in Phase 1 in China and one oral preclinical candidate, according to the report [6].
Entities / Keywords
Lundbeck, H. Lundbeck A/S, bocunebart, Lu AG09222, VYEPTI, eptinezumab, bexicaserin, PACIFIC trial, DELIVER, INFUSE, multiple system atrophy, MSA [1]
Roche, Elecsys NfL, Neurofilament Light Chain, RRMS, relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, cobas [2]
Plus Therapeutics, REYOBIQ, rhenium Re186 obisbemeda, orphan drug designation, pediatric malignant glioma, pediatric ependymoma [3]
Dyno Therapeutics, Astellas, AAV capsid, skeletal muscle delivery, AI-designed capsid, gene therapy [4]
Galmed, Aramchol, Barcode Nanotech, SCD1 inhibitor, blood-brain barrier, BBB, Parkinson disease, synucleinopathies, α-synuclein [5]
AbbVie, Haisco, HSK55718, HSK51155, NaV1.8, acute pain, non-opioid pain [6]
Quiver Bioscience, UBE3A ASO, Dup15q syndrome, antisense oligonucleotide, Dup15q Alliance [7]
Samjin Pharmaceutical, Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital, CNS therapies, migraine, antibody discovery [8]
References
- https://news.cision.com/h–lundbeck-a-s/r/lundbeck-to-showcase-new-neurology-data-at-the-american-academy-of-neurology-annual-meeting,c4333712
- https://www.roche.com/media/releases/med-cor-2026-04-13
- https://www.manilatimes.net/2026/04/08/tmt-newswire/globenewswire/plus-therapeutics-granted-us-fda-orphan-drug-designation-to-reyobiq-in-pediatric-malignant-gliomas/2316294
- https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260408079855/en/Dyno-Therapeutics-Announces-Capsid-License-Exercised-by-Astellas-for-Skeletal-Muscle-Targeted-Gene-Delivery-Validating-AI-Powered-Technology-for-Biological-Sequence-Design
- https://galmedpharma.investorroom.com/2026-04-09-Galmed-Announces-the-Breakthrough-Development-of-a-Brain-Penetrating-New-Formulation-of-its-SCD1-inhibitor,-Aramchol
- https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/abbvie-inks-715m-deal-chinese-biotech-haisco-two-acute-pain-assets
- https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260413044088/en/Quiver-Bioscience-Receives-Strategic-Investment-From-the-Porta-Family-to-Advance-UBE3A-ASO-Therapeutic-Program-for-Dup15q-Syndrome
- https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-science/2026/04/13/7R23FR5KPBHLFIYPZUIPFG3BGI/