Promising Clinical Studies
With limited resources , MJFF invests in high-risk , high-reward therapeutic strategies patients themselves would prioritize in an effort to address a wide array of unmet medical needs . Below are selected highlights from the Foundation ’ s portfolio of 71 disease-modifying therapies in clinical testing in 2022 .
Alpha-synuclein The alpha-synuclein protein , which toxically misfolds and clumps in brain and body cells to give rise to PD , remains a high-priority drug target . Among the 15 therapies in human testing targeting alphasynuclein , new trials and promising results kept momentum pacing forward in 2022 .
+ After funding a Phase I trial , MJFF and partners are funding a follow-up study of anle138b from German biotechnology company MODAG to stop alpha-synuclein aggregates . Researchers aim to replicate initial positive findings in this next phase and further explore dosing for future studies in people with PD .
+ Immunotherapy has become a buzzword in research and care because of recent and heartening progress in treating cancer . Parkinson ’ s researchers , too , are enthusiastic about the potential to harness the body ’ s own immune system as a treatment approach . Now , a “ vaccine ” for PD is moving ahead . Dallas , Texas-based biotech Vaxxinity reports that its UB-312 vaccine is safe and induces the body to produce antibodies against alphasynuclein . MJFF provided funding for Part B of the ongoing Phase I study in January 2022 ; more results are expected before year-end .
LRRK2 Mutations in the LRRK2 gene lead to too much activity of the LRKK2 protein , though recent research indicates people without a mutation can also have overactivity of LRRK2 . In April , an eagerly anticipated Phase II study launched , led by two companies that have teamed up
71 disease-modifying
therapies in clinical testing FALL 2022
40
30
20
10
0
33
36
2
Phase I Phase II Phase III
7