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Mereo BioPharma and Sentynl Therapeutics Announce Option and License Agreement for alvelestat in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency-Associated Lung Disease (AATD-LD)
Sentynl expands its rare disease portfolio with potential first-in-class oral treatment for AATD-LD, a rare genetic respiratory disease
On option exercise, Sentynl will have the right to commercialize the product in the United States; Mereo to lead global development and retains rest of the world rights
Mereo will receive an upfront option fee and, on option exercise, is eligible to receive $40 million in upfront and R&D payments, up to $435 million in potential milestones, and double-digit tiered royalties on U.S. sales
Companies will collaborate to refine the Phase 3 design during short option period
London, UK, Solana Beach, California, and Ahmedabad, India – August 11, 2026 – Mereo BioPharma Group plc (Nasdaq: MREO) ("Mereo" or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on rare diseases and Sentynl Therapeutics, Inc. ("Sentynl"), a U.S.-based biopharmaceutical company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Zydus Lifesciences Limited ("Zydus"), today announced that they have entered into an option and license agreement for the U.S. commercial and global manufacturing rights to alvelestat for AATD-LD. Alvelestat is a neutrophil elastase inhibitor being readied for Phase 3 and, if approved, would be the first oral treatment for this rare, progressive genetic lung disease affecting an estimated 50,000-80,000 individuals in the United States.1,2,3,4,5,6
The option and license agreement grants Sentynl the exclusive right to acquire a license to commercialize alvelestat for AATD-LD in the United States, with Mereo retaining commercial rights in the rest of the world. The agreement also grants Sentynl global rights to manufacture alvelestat for AATD-LD and on option exercise, it provides funding for the alvelestat Phase 3 development program, which could be initiated in early 2027.
"We are very pleased to have the opportunity to partner with Sentynl to advance alvelestat for patients with AATD-LD. We have been preparing alvelestat for a global Phase 3 study, backed by positive efficacy data from two Phase 2 studies. We believe Sentynl’s commitment to rare diseases and established commercial infrastructure make them the ideal partner for alvelestat and look forward to collaborating with them during the option period, when we plan to refine the global Phase 3 study design,” said Denise Scots-Knight, Chief Executive Officer of Mereo BioPharma.
"This partnership marks a pivotal moment for Sentynl’s rare disease strategy. Mereo’s alvelestat is a highly promising, differentiated candidate that meaningfully expands our portfolio and has the potential to address an area of significant unmet need,” said Dr. Sharvil P. Patel, Managing Director, Zydus Lifesciences Limited. “AATD-LD has a profound impact on patients' lives. If approved, alvelestat has the potential to be a meaningful new option that could help their quality of life.”
"We take great pride in having built a sustainable approach for developing therapies for ultra-rare conditions, and this partnership allows us to expand that strategic focus to a larger population within the rare disease community, enabling us to help more people,” said Matt Heck, Chief Executive Officer of Sentynl Therapeutics. “For patients with AATD-LD, the current standard of care is demanding, often relying on generalized therapies or frequent intravenous treatments. We see a clear opportunity to improve upon that with alvelestat. Mereo has built a strong foundation for this asset, making them an ideal partner as we collaborate during the option period to prepare for the next phase of development.”
Mereo will receive a non-refundable option fee from Sentynl and, on exercise of the option, the Company would also receive $40 million in upfront and R&D payments. Under these terms, Mereo would also be eligible to receive up to $435 million in regulatory and commercial milestone payments, as well as double-digit tiered royalties on U.S. net sales of alvelestat. Mereo will lead the global Phase 3 study and regulatory interactions until the study is completed. However, during the option period, the companies will collaborate to advance manufacturing and streamline the Phase 3 study design.
About Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency-Associated Lung Disease (AATD-LD)
AATD is a rare, genetic disease that results in a deficiency of the alpha-1 antitrypsin protein, which protects the lungs against damaging enzymes that the body releases during inflammation. The majority of individuals with severe deficiency develop pulmonary emphysema, a progressive, life-threatening lung disease, which results in severe shortness of breath, chronic cough and sputum production with susceptibility to acute exacerbations. Individuals with AATD may also develop asthma and bronchiectasis, a permanent enlargement of parts of the lungs’ airways. The estimated prevalence of AATD-LD (Pi*ZZ variant) in the United States is approximately 50,000-80,000 people.1,2,3,4,5,6
About Alvelestat
Alvelestat is a novel, oral small molecule designed to specifically inhibit neutrophil elastase (NE), a key enzyme involved in inflammation and the destruction of lung tissue. As a small molecule, alvelestat is able to access both cell-bound and soluble elastase and effectively penetrate lung tissue. The safety and tolerability profile of alvelestat has been established through clinical trials in over 1,000 patients with respiratory diseases, including AATD-LD, COPD, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, COVID-19 and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome following allogeneic stem cell transplant.
Alvelestat has received Orphan Drug Designation for AATD-LD from the European Commission and the FDA. It has also received Fast Track designation from the FDA.
About Mereo BioPharma
Mereo BioPharma is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of innovative therapeutics for rare diseases. The Company has three rare disease product candidates: setrusumab for the treatment of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI); alvelestat for the treatment of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency-associated lung disease (AATD-LD); and vantictumab for the treatment of autosomal dominant osteopetrosis type 2 (ADO2). The Company and its partner for setrusumab, Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc., have reported top-line results from two Phase 3 studies for setrusumab in OI in patients aged 2 to 25 years old. Ultragenyx is funding and leading global development and Mereo has retained EU and UK commercial rights. Mereo has entered into an exclusive option and license agreement with Sentynl Therapeutics Inc. for the U.S. rights commercialize alvelestat, while retaining rest of the world rights and will lead the global development. The agreement also grants Sentynl global rights to manufacture alvelestat for AATD-LD. Mereo has partnered with āshibio, Inc., for vantictumab in ADO2. āshibio, Inc. is funding and leading the global development program and Mereo has retained EU and UK commercial rights. Mereo has also entered into exclusive global license agreements with ReproNovo SA, for the development and commercialization of leflutrozole for the treatment of infertility in men, and with Feng Biosciences for the development and commercialization of navicixizumab for late-stage ovarian cancer.
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