Photo: Anne McClain
JULY | 2017 AUG | 2017
LRRK2 GOES TO SPACE
The Foundation partners with the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space( CASIS) to send a key Parkinson’ s protein to the International Space Station for growth under microgravity conditions. Microgravity may allow bigger, more regular LRRK2 protein crystals to grow, which helps solve the protein’ s structure. That information could help scientists design optimized therapies against LRRK2, a key target in the pursuit of a Parkinson’ s cure.
GOCOVRI ATTAINS FDA APPROVAL
Gocovri, an extended-release amantadine capsule, becomes the first drug specifically approved to treat dyskinesia— uncontrolled, involuntary movements that can develop with long-term levodopa use. MJFF helps move the drug to market by developing an outcome scale used to demonstrate the efficacy of the drug. And human studies of Gocovri leading up to the approval are among the first to benefit from MJFF’ s smart-match tool for Parkinson’ s studies.
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