Osborne Clarke advises Schwabe Group on strategic investment in Synaptikon

Osborne Clarke has provided legal advice to the Schwabe Group on its strategic investment in Synaptikon GmbH. Synaptikon is the company behind the NeuroNation brand and the NeuroNation MED app, which has permanent approval as a digital health application (DiGA). With this transaction, Schwabe is strengthening its position in the field of digital health solutions and further expanding its expertise in the “mental health” segment.

Synaptikon, headquartered in Berlin, develops digital solutions to promote cognitive health and, with more than 30 million users worldwide, is one of the leading providers of digital cognitive interventions. The DiGA NeuroNation MED is aimed at people with mild cognitive impairments (including ICD-10: F06.7) as well as their treating physicians and psychotherapists. The multimodal, personalised training programme is based on scientifically sound methods and is continuously further developed in close cooperation with renowned research institutions in Germany.

The Schwabe Group, headquartered in Karlsruhe, is one of the internationally leading providers of herbal medicines and health products. With medicines such as Tebonin®, it has been addressing for many years the growing market segment focusing on cognitive performance and brain health. By investing in Synaptikon, Schwabe is combining its phytopharmaceutical expertise with Synaptikon’s digital health competence in order to advance holistic, science-based prevention and treatment approaches for mild cognitive impairments.

Strategic partnership for integrated care in cognitive disorders

The aim of the cooperation is to bring together the strengths of both partners – expertise in pharmaceuticals and digital therapy – and to develop innovative care concepts for patients with concentration and memory problems. The focus is in particular on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and similar indications in which digital training approaches, lifestyle interventions and pharmacological support can be sensibly combined. Against the background of an ageing population and a high number of undiagnosed MCI cases, the partnership is intended to help close gaps in care and establish new standards in digital healthcare provision.

Comprehensive advice on M&A, healthcare and IP matters

Osborne Clarke advised the Schwabe Group on all key legal aspects of the investment. The main focus was on structuring and negotiating the investment documentation, corporate law issues in connection with entering a growth-oriented digital health company, as well as regulatory matters at the interface between pharmaceutical, medical device and digital health law. In addition, the advice covered IP law issues relating to rights, data and platform technology.

The Osborne Clarke team, jointly led by Robert Marx and Till-Manuel Saur (Partner responsibility), consisted of David Hamala, Lea Daase (all Corporate / M&A), Dr Jens Schefzig, Dr Tobias Rothkegel, Runa Wohlthat, Benedikt Siebelmann, Dr Konrad Lang, Hanna Meyer (all IT / Data Protection / Cybersecurity), Dr Tim Reinhard, Larissa Mößmer, Marina Fröhlich, Dr Jonas Völkel (all IP / Health Regulatory), Alexander Schlicht, Anna Lehner, Karina Naumann (all Employment), Florian Merkle, Patrick Seiler, Stephanie Bihler (all Tax), Thomas Schnabel, Niklas Demmer (both Real Estate), Lea Hauser (Merger Control), Laura Valeske and Zübeyde Aldemir (both Legal Project Management).