Biogen Idec, already a major player in treatments for multiple sclerosis, has moved to strengthen its leadership in the space through a collaboration and license option with privately held Boston-based biotech MAKScientific for new treatments for multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases.

MAKScientific is a discovery stage company focused on the identification and development of therapies that modulate the cannabinoid receptor pathways for the treatment of pain, inflammatory disorders, and multiple sclerosis.

Under their agreement, Biogen Idec will receive an option for an exclusive license to select discovery-stage MAKScientific drug candidates for all indications worldwide. Upon Biogen Idec’s exercise of the option, MAKScientific will be eligible to receive an exercise fee of up to $3 million and up to an additional $31 million in milestone payments associated with the clinical development of the drug candidates. MAKScientific will also be eligible for royalties on net sales worldwide.

“We are very excited to initiate this collaboration with Biogen Idec,” says Alexandros Makriyannis, founder of MAKScientific. “We believe it will help advance our proprietary medicinal chemistry to the benefit of MS patients. As a global leader in MS research and development, Biogen Idec is the ideal partner for our discovery and development program.”

It has long been known that cannabis, a major ingredient in marijuana, has medicinal properties. Many people use it medicinally to relieve the pain, nausea, and vomiting induced by cancer chemotherapy. But its mood-altering effects have been a stumbling block to research into other uses. MAKScientific says it has created novel cannabinoid compounds without the psychotropic side effects associated with cannabis. It has designed and synthesized compounds that are in advanced preclinical development for the treatment of obesity and metabolic disorders, neuropathic and inflammatory pain, addiction, and neuroprotection. The company says it has a library of more than 12,000 compounds covering the key therapeutic areas it is pursuing.

The human body produces its own endogenous cannabinoids, a family of neurotransmitters and neuromodulators, which are involved in a number of physiological processes by interacting with cannabinoid receptors. Their major role is to protect the brain from neuronal damage. This is accomplished by releasing endocannabinoids, which are subsequently deactivated by special enzymes, the most promising of which is fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). Compounds capable of selectively inhibiting this enzyme can produce increased levels of endocannabinoids capable of neuroprotective action, making them potential treatments of neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis as well as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. MAKScientific’s MAK5206 is a FAAH inhibitor that has demonstrated potent neuroprotective properties and excellent safety profiles and is being explored as a medication for multiple sclerosis.

Biogen Idec already markets three U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments for multiple sclerosis: Avonex, Tysabri, and the recently approved Ampyra to improve walking. In February 2011, it asked the FDA for an accelerated review of BG-12, an oral therapy. Revenues for Avonex and Tysabri were approximately $3.8 billion in 2010. The company also has two other compounds in late stage development for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis.