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De-Risking Strategy Leads to Significant Investment in Parkinson's Drug Development

BREAKING NEWS


In the past 48 hours, two biotechnology companies have announced significant investments in research projects jumpstarted by MJFF funding. Such deals mean these programs will continue their promising work — moving disease-modifying and symptomatic treatments that much closer to patients' hands.

Amicus Therapeutics, funded by MJFF since 2006, has announced a partnership with Biogen Idec to collaborate on discovery of a new class of molecules, which may help slow alpha-synuclein accumulation — and prevent the progression of PD.

With work built from $1.3 million in MJFF funding, Civitas Therapeutics, Inc., announced that venture capital firms have committed them $38 million, providing for late-stage clinical study of CVT-301, an inhaled formulation of levodopa that offers more rapid and consistent relief to PD’s "on/off" periods.

"This is why our Foundation exists," said Todd Sherer, PhD, MJFF CEO. "We’re here to take the risks, fund new ideas and help build the data to encourage vital partnerships down the road. Investments from venture capital firms and large companies can help translate these initial findings into medications in the hands of patients."

Read more on our FoxFeed blog.