Saniona, a leading
biotech company in the field of ion channels, today announced that The Michael
J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF) has awarded Saniona a
research grant of up to USD 590,700 (approximately SEK 5.1 million) to develop
small-molecule modulators of nicotine receptors belonging to a subtype named
alpha-6 and evaluate the feasibility of using these drug candidates for the
treatment of Parkinson's disease.
"We are very
proud that The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research supports the
development of our technology and our work with MJFF illustrates our commitment
to delivering cutting-edge research towards new medications for severe
neurological disorders," says Jørgen Drejer, CEO of Saniona.
The Saniona research
team is the first to present small molecules that specifically facilitate the
function of nicotinic alpha-6 receptors, which mediate dopamine signalling.
Earlier research has shown nicotinic alpha-6 modulators may offer a novel approach
to protect dopamine neurons from degeneration seen in Parkinson's disease.
"The development
of therapies to address unmet needs of people with Parkinson's disease is a top
priority of The Michael J. Fox Foundation, and nicotinic alpha-6 modulators
present a promising novel approach," says Marco Baptista, PhD, MJFF
director of research programs.
Saniona will apply the
grant from MJFF to demonstrate relevant facilitation of dopamine neurons and to
perform a chemical optimization of its nicotinic alpha-6 modulators in order to
identify compounds suitable to demonstrate activity in relevant animal models.
Once an optimal tool compound is generated, Saniona will conduct functional
proof-of-principle studies and assess potential neuroprotective effects.
Should this project
confirm a functional facilitation of dopamine release from relevant brain
regions, the next steps would be to accelerate this program toward lead
optimization to identify a therapeutic candidate to be advanced into
pre-clinical development for the possible initiation of Phase 1 clinical
trials.
"If this research
and subsequently preclinical development prove successful, we hope to deliver a
potential disease modifying therapy that slow or stop the dopamine neuron loss
seen in Parkinson's disease," says Jørgen Drejer, CEO of Saniona.
About Saniona
Saniona is a research
and development company focused on drugs for diseases of the central nervous
system, autoimmune diseases, metabolic diseases and treatment of pain. The
company has a significant portfolio of potential drug candidates at
pre-clinical and clinical stage. The research is focused on ion channels, which
makes up a unique protein class that enables and controls the passage of
charged ions across cell membranes. Saniona has ongoing collaboration
agreements with Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc. and Saniona'sBoston based
spinout Ataxion Inc., which is financed by Atlas Venture Inc. and Biogen Idec
Inc.Saniona is based in Copenhagen, Denmark, where it has a research center of
high international standard. Saniona is listed at AktieTorget since April 2014
and has about 3,000 shareholders. The company's share is traded under the
ticker SANION. Read more at www.saniona.com.
About Parkinson's
disease
Parkinson's disease is
a chronic and progressive neurological disorder that is characterized by
well-known motor symptoms including tremors, stiffness of limbs, slowness of
movements, and difficulties with posture and balance. In addition to motor
symptoms, many Parkinson's disease patients experience non-motor symptoms,
including sleep disorders, sensory symptoms, depression and gastrointestinal
symptoms.
It is the second most
common neurological disorder and more than five million people worldwide live
with this disease. Parkinson's disease is more common in people over 60 years
of age, but the disease also afflicts people as young as in their late 20s. In
healthy people, the motor system is regulated by nerve cells that communicate
with each other using dopamine. In Parkinson's disease, dopamine-producing
cells in the brain degenerate, affecting the entire central nervous system.
This causes an impairment of communication between the cells leading to the
loss of control of movements. Current Parkinson's treatments are only effective
in managing symptoms of the disease. As the disease progresses and dopaminergic
neurons continue to be lost, these drugs eventually become less effective at
treating the symptoms.
About Nicotine alpha-6
modulators
Nicotinic alpha-6
receptors exhibit an extremely localized expression, mainly confined to
dopamine neurons. In these neurons, they are expressed on the nerve endings
innervating a brain region named striatum, where they are important mediators
of local regulation of dopamine signalling by the signalling molecule
acetylcholine. The Saniona research team is the first to present selective allosteric
modulators of nicotinic alpha-6 receptors and has furthermore demonstrated that
these modulators increase the receptor sensitivity for acetylcholine. The
identified nicotinic alpha-6 modulators have the potential to strengthen
acetylcholine-mediated dopamine release at the nerve endings in striatum and
thereby offer a novel approach to protect and counteract degeneration of
dopamine neurons in Parkinson's disease patients.
About The Michael J.
Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
As the world's largest
non-profit funder of Parkinson's research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is
dedicated to accelerating a cure for Parkinson's disease and improved therapies
for those living with the condition today. The Foundation pursues its goals
through an aggressively funded, highly targeted research program coupled with
active global engagement of scientists, Parkinson's patients, business leaders,
clinical trial participants, donors and volunteers. In addition to funding more
than $525 million in research to date, the Foundation has fundamentally altered
the trajectory of progress toward a cure. Operating at the hub of worldwide
Parkinson's research, the Foundation forges ground-breaking collaborations with
industry leaders, academic scientists and government research funders;
increases the flow of participants into Parkinson's disease clinical trials
with its online tool, Fox Trial Finder; promotes Parkinson's awareness through
high-profile advocacy, events and outreach; and coordinates the grassroots
involvement of thousands of Team Fox members around the world.
files
http://news.cision.com/saniona/r/awarded-grant-by-the-michael-j--fox-foundation-for-parkinson-s-research,c9920570
http://mb.cision.com/Main/11240/9920570/480053.pdf
http://health.einnews.com/article_detail/312905046/OJVvsJvvIayEXyJd?n=2&code=lAb0qDE0aV13cmUw
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