Academy Professor Saarma receives significant grant to develop new drugs for Parkinson’s disease

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) has awarded a significant research grant to Academy Professor Mart Saarma and his team at the Institute of Biotechnology of the University of Helsinki. The grant comes to a total of 515,086 US dollars. Saarma’s team, together with biopharmaceutical company Hermo Pharma Ltd, is developing new forms of therapy for Parkinson’s disease. The MJFF grant will be used to complete preclinical studies addressing the therapeutic potential of the neurotrophic factor CDNF.

Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the central nervous system that results from the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. Saarma’s team’s breakthroughs include the discovery of the novel neurotrophic factor CDNF (cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor) and the demonstration that it protects and has a capacity to repair injured neurons in animal models of Parkinson’s disease. The CDNF growth factor plays an important role in the development of dopamine neurons in the brain.

Saarma’s team and a team headed by Professor Raimo K. Tuominen from the Faculty of Pharmacy have compared the neuroprotective and neurorestorative properties of CDNF with those of other neurotrophic factors, such as glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). The results have been very promising in terms of developing novel treatments for Parkinson’s disease.

Future studies are expected to provide proof of the theory of CDNF’s safety and efficacy. The aim is to start clinical trials in Helsinki.

“This grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation is extremely important for carrying out the preclinical trials. I’m very proud of our collaboration with Hermo Pharma Ltd and of our highly professional and international team. I’m positive that we’ll soon be able to complete the preclinical trials and start clinical trials,” Academy Professor Saarma said.

Source: University of Helsinki