Ceregene, Inc. Reports New Findings Regarding How Parkinson's Brains Respond to Neurotrophic Factors

15 Feb 2011

Ceregene published new experimental findings in support of its Parkinson's disease program which appeared as the lead article in the current issue of Movement Disorders (the official journal of the Movement Disorders Society).

SAN DIEGO,CA, USA I February 15, 2011 I Ceregene, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, reported today that its scientists and collaborators have published new experimental findings in support of its Parkinson's disease program which appeared as the lead article in the current issue of Movement Disorders (the official journal of the Movement Disorders Society). The publication reports the first evidence that gene transfer can provide targeted expression of a neurotrophic factor, i.e., neurturin or NRTN, intended to restore and preserve dying neurons. Moreover, it provides the first evidence that neurotrophic factors can improve the status of degenerating dopamine neurons in Parkinson's brains. New insight important for further improving the bioactivity of NRTN in advanced Parkinson's disease, implemented in the current Phase 2b CERE-120 trial, was also reported. Raymond T. Bartus, Ph.D., Ceregene's executive vice president and chief scientific officer, who has led the development of CERE-120, is the lead author of the publication.