Project description
Novel drugs against Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegeneration that is characterised by shaking, stiffness and impaired movement. PD affects the dopamine-producing neurons in the brain of millions of individuals worldwide. Available treatment options are limited, with the most potent medication being a dopamine precursor known as levodopa. The EU-funded IRL790 project aims to increase the battery of available medications against PD and reduce erratic movements and psychosis in patients. Researchers have taken into consideration the complexity of central nervous system diseases to design two different drugs that are generating promising results in preliminary clinical trials.
Objective
This project’s goal is to develop a successful treatment that combats severe motor and psychotic symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD). PD is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder affecting > 6 million people worldwide. It’s the neurological disorder with the highest increase in death rates, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs). Levodopa, introduced more than 50 years ago, remains the most prescribed treatment for the symptomatic relief of PD, although its long-term use leads to the development of motor complications, i.e. levodopa-induced dyskinesia (PD-LIDs).
IRLAB aims to address the challenge in PD treatment by clinically validating its novel compound, IRL790, aimed at reducing symptoms of PD-LIDs and Parkinson’s disease psychosis. IRLAB’s programme is based on its proprietary drug discovery platform, Integrative Screening Process (ISP), which captures a better understanding of complexities of CNS-related diseases, such as PD, and yields drug candidates with superior chance of success in the clinic.
IRLAB’s therapeutic will improve intervention outcomes for PD patients in two indications. Its safety and tolerability have been validated in Phase I clinical trials and its therapeutic efficacy in PD-LIDs is being evaluated in an ongoing Phase II study. Results are expected 2018. Besides medical benefits to patients, IRL790 has also the potential to bring cost-savings to healthcare providers by effectively reducing the Parkinson’s disease burden.
Generation of high quality clinical data will improve IRLAB’s opportunities for out-licensing. We plan to apply for SME grant to accelerate clinical developmental and take IRL790 through a Phase II study in PD psychosis. This way, we will out-license and market the drug sooner and for two indications (PD-LIDs and PD psychosis) simultaneously. IRLAB has an established business development contact network and have gained trust of international healthcare investors and national innovation funding bodies.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
413 46 GOTEBORG
Sweden
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.