SciNeuro Pharmaceuticals announced today that it entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Eli Lilly for antibody therapies.

Under the agreement, Shanghai-based SciNeuro obtained an exclusive license to develop and commercialize alpha-synuclein targeted antibodies developed by Lilly within Greater China, which includes mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, according to a news release.

The targeted antibody treatments are designed to treat neurodegenerative disease, including Parkinson’s disease.

Lilly VP of neurodegeneration research Michael Hutton said in the release that approximately 3 million are affected by Parkinson’s in Greater China, highlighting a “pressing need” for new therapeutic options like Lilly’s targeted antibody treatments.

“We are excited to establish this important collaboration with Lilly, an industry leader in neurological diseases. Alpha-synuclein is a promising target for neurodegenerative disease with robust evidence of human genetics and disease pathology, and it aligns well with SciNeuro’s strategic focus,” SciNeuro founder, president & CEO Min Li said in the release. “Current therapies for Parkinson’s disease provide symptomatic relief, while alpha-synuclein targeted therapies, particularly given the differentiated features of the Lilly program, have the potential to slow or halt disease progression. They hold significant promise as a new treatment paradigm to improve the quality of life and management of Parkinson’s disease patients.”