Pfizer partners with MedGenesis on Parkinson’s
pharmafile | September 16, 2014 | News story | Research and Development, Sales and Marketing | Canada, Erich Mohr, MedGenesis, Parkinson's, Parkinson’s, Pfizer, neuroscience
Canadian biotech MedGenesis has entered into an agreement with Pfizer to develop potential treatments for Parkinson’s disease.
The privately-held biotech is giving the pharma giant the option to license its glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) protein and convection enhanced delivery (CED) technology towards any development efforts.
Dr Erich Mohr who is the chief executive and chairman of MedGenesis says: “We are delighted to be collaborating with Pfizer to complete our GDNF program, and we hope that this collaboration will result in potential treatments for people living with Parkinson’s that could radically alter the course of their disease.”
Whilst no financial details of the partnership have been disclosed, under the terms of the agreement MedGenesis will receive an upfront option fee, and upon ‘exercise of the option’ by Pfizer will be eligible for further milestone and royalty payments.
MedGenesis whose headquarters are in British Columbia, is currently running a proof of concept study in with its aforementioned GDNF and CED technology for the incurable degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that is Parkinson’s disease.
Currently only certain treatments are effective at managing the early symptoms of Parkinson’s through the deployment of levodopa and dopamine agonists, but as the disease progresses these drugs become ineffective and then produce a complication called dyskinesia, which is marked by spontaneous writhing movements.
Any promising compounds developed through this venture between Pfizer and MedGenesis could turn out to be significant and extremely lucrative, in an area where sufferers can expect symptoms to tracked and at best, alleviated.
“Pfizer is committed to improving the lives of people living with neurological diseases, including Parkinson’s disease,” says Michael Ehlers, senior VP at Pfizer’s neuroscience unit.
“With limited treatment options currently available, Parkinson’s disease is a devastating illness for patients and families. We believe that this collaboration with MedGenesis has the potential to provide the first disease-modifying treatment that slows the progressive decline in patients, consistent with our commitment to making a difference in areas of high unmet medical need,” he adds.
Giving his backing to the venture was Steve Ford who is the chief executive at Parkinson’s UK, who says on the move: “We’re delighted Pfizer has recognised the potential of GDNF, and are backing what could be a serious game-changer in the treatment of Parkinson’s.
“For years, the potential of GDNF as a treatment for Parkinson’s has remained one of the great unanswered research questions in the field, despite early promising signals. We believe GDNF may hold the key to stop Parkinson’s progressing, something which no existing treatment can do.”
Brett Wells
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