News

Merck, GTRI partner on gene therapy for Parkinson’s disease

Merck‘s U.S. and Canada life sciences business, MilliporeSigma, signed a memorandum of understanding with Gene Therapy Research Institution (GTRI), a Japanese clinical-stage biotech company, to accelerate the development of a viral vector-based gene therapy for Parkinson’s disease. Under the terms of the non-binding agreement, which symbolizes the parties’…

Study probes contact sports, CTE, parkinsonism links

Nearly one-quarter of deceased athletes with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative disease associated with repetitive head impacts, experienced Parkinson’s disease-like symptoms during their lives, according to a study researchers said is the largest to date exploring the links among contact sports, CTE, and parkinsonism. The researchers found that…

Brenig raises $65M to advance LRRK2 inhibitor BT-267 to trials

Brenig Therapeutics has raised $65 million to advance its lead candidate, LRRK inhibitor BT-267, into human clinical trials as a possible treatment for idiopathic (of unknown cause) and LRRK2-associated Parkinson’s disease. The funds will be used to test BT-267 in healthy volunteers in a first-in-human study, Brenig said.

Home exercise helps Parkinson’s motor symptoms: Analysis

Home-based exercise, such as aerobic, strength, or balance exercises, helps relieve overall motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, according to a meta-analysis. But benefits were only seen when patients exercised for a minimum of eight weeks, and no less than 30 times. The findings provide “clinicians and patients with clear…

$6M grant aids work into calcium channel blocker to protect neurons

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) has awarded a $6 million grant to Lario Therapeutics to advance early studies into CaV2.3 calcium channel inhibitors as a potential disease-modifying therapy for Parkinson’s disease. Lario’s preclinical program is being developed in collaboration with the Oxford…