BBB-Crossing Tech for Lysosomal Storage Disorders at Center of Chiesi–Aliada Partnership

Aliada Therapeutics, a subsidiary of Abbvie, is collaborating with Italy-based Chiesi Group to leverage blood-brain barrier (BBB)-crossing platform technology to treat lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) (1). According to a press release from Chiesi, the nature of the partnership is positioned to address challenging disease areas that have high levels of unmet need.

The worldwide, exclusive license enables Chiesi Group to develop and commercialize enzyme replacement therapies (ERTs) using Aliada’s proprietary BBB technology (1). The agreement builds on a collaboration, established in August 2023, that was intended to focus on multiple enzyme cargoes modified with Aliada’s Modular Delivery (MODEL) platform (2).

According to information provided by both companies at that time, the MODEL technology enables high therapeutic exposure in the brain, demonstrating advantages over competing approaches by offering a broad design landscape with an ability to optimize therapeutics for both central nervous system (CNS) delivery—many LSDs have CNS involvement—and downstream functionality (2).

How are company leaders welcoming the news?

“This agreement underscores our continued commitment to creating potential solutions that target the significant unmet needs in managing cognitive and neurological symptoms across several rare diseases,” Giacomo Chiesi, executive vice-president, Chiesi Global Rare Diseases, said in a press release (1). “These aspects of [diseases] are frequently underserved, yet they can profoundly affect patients and their families. By advancing this research, we intend to go beyond symptom management and potentially address the fundamental neurological burden directly.”

“We're proud to deepen our collaboration, propelling our partnership with Aliada to its next stage,” Mitch Goldman, senior vice-president, R&D, Chiesi Global Rare Diseases, added (1). “We're advancing therapies and opening the door to identifying therapeutic pathways for LSDs, supported by encouraging preclinical data. What truly drives us is the urgent call from patients and families to move beyond symptom management and directly address the unmet neurological burden. That inspiring call to action shapes our work every day."

What does this mean for the challenges of treating LSDs?

The partnership represents a strategic step toward overcoming one of the most persistent challenges in treating LSDs: effective delivery of ERTs across the BBB.

This collaboration underscores growing industry emphasis on molecular delivery technologies that bridge peripheral and CNS pathology. If successful, MODEL could provide a scalable approach to transporting biologics into the brain—an area where traditional ERTs have shown limited efficacy due to restricted BBB permeability (2).

From a manufacturing standpoint, Chiesi’s integration of this program into its Biotech Center of Excellence in Parma, Italy, may streamline the translation of these therapies from research to clinical-grade production (3). The partnership also illustrates a wider trend among mid-sized biopharma firms pursuing vertical integration—combining R&D, process development, and biologics manufacturing—to accelerate rare disease program timelines.

What else have these companies announced recently?

It has been nearly a year since AbbVie closed its acquisition of Aliada, which was reported to be a $1.4 billion cash transaction (4). In that announcement, AbbVie touted the deal as a boon to its neuroscience pipeline.

In October 2024, Chiesi launched the aforementioned Biotech Center of Excellence that is intended, according to a press release, to provide integration of the entire supply chain, developing and producing monoclonal antibodies, enzymes, and other proteins, combining those with research and industrial production capabilities (3).

References

1. Chiesi Group. Chiesi Group Enters into an Exclusive License Agreement with Aliada Therapeutics, a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of AbbVie, to Advance Blood-Brain Barrier-Crossing Platform Technology in Lysosomal Storage Disorders. Press Release. Nov. 12, 2025.
2. Chiesi Global Rare Diseases. Chiesi Global Rare Diseases Announces Co-Development Agreement with Aliada Therapeutics to Advance Blood-Brain Barrier-Crossing Platform Technology in Lysosomal Storage Disorders. Press Release. Aug. 15, 2023.
3. Chiesi Group. Chiesi Group's New Biotech Center of Excellence Brings the Future of Medicine to Parma, Italy. Press Release. Oct. 14, 2024.
4. AbbVie. AbbVie Completes Acquisition of Aliada Therapeutics. Press Release. Dec. 11, 2024.