Roche signs early-stage Parkinson, Alzheimer deal

* Pact covers preclinical compounds from Beglium's reMYND

* Could be worth 500 mln euros if drugs successful

LONDON, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Roche (ROG.VX) boosted its early-stage central nervous system (CNS) drug pipeline on Tuesday by signing a drug development deal for new Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease medicines with Belgium's reMYND.

The collaboration will focus on two of reMYND's preclinical oral compounds, which the Belgian start-up says are unique because they inhibit alpha-synuclein neurotoxicity in Parkinson's and tau neurotoxicity in Alzheimer's disease.

Under the agreement, reMYND could receive over 500 million euros ($637 million) in milestone payments, as well as royalties on sales, if the experimental drugs make it to market, reMYND said in a statement.

Luca Santarelli, head of Roche CNS, said the addition of the programmes strengthened and complemented the Swiss drugmaker's existing research.

ReMYND is a spin-off company of Leuven University, Belgium. ($1=.7846 Euro) (Reporting by Ben Hirschler; Editing by Hans Peters)