Eye-tracking measures to aid evaluation in Parkinson’s clinical trial
Neuralight platform to measure brain function in Teiter Trophic's TT-P34 study
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- Teitur Trophics' TT-P34 will be tested in a Parkinson's disease clinical trial.
- Neuralight's eye-tracking platform will assess brain function in the trial.
- TT-P34 aims to clear protein aggregates in Parkinson's disease.
A clinical trial testing Teitur Trophics‘ TT-P34 in Parkinson’s disease will use Neuralight‘s brain function biomarker based on eye movement to assess neural circuitry, the companies announced.
Neuralight’s platform provides precise measures of brain function derived from eye movements, based on well-established links between specific eye movement patterns and underlying neural circuitry. Teitur is developing TT-P34 for several neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s, dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia, and Huntington’s disease. The companies didn’t provide details about the clinical trial.
“We are pleased to support Teitur Trophics’ TT-P34 program through our unique precision biomarker platform,” Edmund Ben-Ami, Neuralight’s CEO and co-founder, said in a company press release. “Our mission is to bring precision to brain function measurement, improving outcomes across brain health and neurological care.”
Parkinson’s disease is caused by the loss of dopaminergic neurons, the brain nerve cells that produce the chemical messenger dopamine. This leads to a range of motor symptoms, including tremors, rigidity, and slowed movements, and nonmotor symptoms, such as cognitive impairment, mental health issues, and sleeping problems.
A disease hallmark is the accumulation of toxic clumps of the alpha-synuclein protein, which is believed to drive neuronal loss. The dysfunction of lysosomes, cell compartments involved in the recycling and disposal of unwanted cellular materials, and mitochondria, the cell’s powerhouses, are also thought to contribute to neurodegeneration.
Treatment aims to help clear aggregates, boost energy production
TT-P34 is a neuroprotective compound derived from SorCS2, a protein receptor involved in protein sorting and transport within cells, designed to enhance lysosomal and mitochondrial functions. It works by increasing the activation of the transcription factor CREB, which regulates the expression of proteins involved in lysosomal and mitochondrial function, and overall neuronal health.
The treatment is expected to improve the clearance of protein aggregates and increase energy production, contributing to halting neurodegeneration and disease progression.
AÂ preclinical study showed TT-P34 could activate CREB signaling in human-derived neurons. The molecule was able to enter the brain after subcutaneous (under-the-skin) injection in mice and increase levels of proteins involved in mitochondrial function and neuronal activity. TT-P34 increased the number of dopaminergic neurons and improved motor function in a mouse model of Parkinson’s.
The molecule also entered the brains of non-human primates after subcutaneous injection, increasing CREB activation. This model also predicted that 84 mg of TT-P34, given once per week via subcutaneous injection in humans, would provide sufficient brain exposure, yielding an estimate of the human dose regimen.
Teitur has raised CA28 million to advance TT-P34 to clinical trials. Neuralight’s platform will provide a quantitative assessment of disease-relevant neural pathway function, supporting the evaluation of TT-P34 as a potential disease-modifying therapy in Parkinson’s.
Neuralight’s platform is based on a machine learning system for monitoring eye movements via webcam. A recently completed study suggested the platform is more sensitive than traditional tests used to assess Parkinson’s progression.
“The integration of this platform brings an innovative brain function biomarker into our upcoming clinical trial and strengthens our ability to explore the biological and functional impact of TT-P34 in patients,” Andreas Borta, PhD, Teitur’s chief medical officer. “Access to NeuraLight’s platform adds an important tool to our clinical trial.”
