SECTION 2 : MOMENTUM
THE MICHAEL J . FOX FOUNDATION 2022 IN REVIEW
The Next Frontier for Potential Cures : A Path to Prevention
Scientists , funders and drugmakers across the Parkinson ’ s field ( and most degenerative diseases ) are increasingly turning their focus toward one hypothesis : the earlier we can intervene , the greater chance of success of a therapeutic . As new therapies with potential to slow or stop Parkinson ’ s move through testing in people already diagnosed , developers have an eye toward intercepting the disease by preventing onset of symptoms altogether .
Today , the Foundation is pioneering this imminent move to prevention trials with its Path to Prevention ( P2P ) platform trial , the first of its kind in Parkinson ’ s disease . As you read on page 24 , the PPMI has established an international framework to identify people at high risk to develop PD in a short time frame : the ideal population for prevention trials . Building interventional trials on top of PPMI ’ s established physical and intellectual infrastructure — including its volunteers , clinical sites , investigators , staff , approved protocols , and more — is an opportunity to shave years and millions of dollars of cost from the process of clinically testing promising therapies .
Now PPMI leadership and MJFF are working urgently to design and implement processes that will enable pharmaceutical companies and other trial sponsors to enroll at-risk participants for Phase II ( safety and efficacy ) drug trials through PPMI . Path to Prevention represents a “ plug and play ” model for drugmakers to advance their therapeutic programs through clinical testing faster . For those living with Parkinson ’ s , the platform is an opportunity to participate in research that could lead to next-generation treatments with potential to prevent Parkinson ’ s . And PPMI will gain valuable additional data for its deep ongoing analysis of the causes , onset and progression of Parkinson ’ s .
As of fall 2022 , nearly a dozen leading pharmaceutical companies have expressed interest in leveraging Path to Prevention . MJFF is now evaluating programs and partners with the goal of launching a first slate of trials on the platform by late 2023 .
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