Alterity Therapeutics has recently announced the the Michael J. Fox Foundation will be funding a dose optimization trial for ATH434. According to BioSpace, this grant is the second from the foundation that will go towards the development of ATH434, which is a treatment for Parkinson’s disease. The money will be used to find the correct dosage of the drug candidate for future trials.
About Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder that affects the central nervous system (CNS). It is characterized by its effect on movement through five different stages. As the disease progresses, severity increases.
- Stage one is characterized by subtle tremors on one side of the body.
- In stage two symptoms are more noticeable, with tremors and rigidity on both sides of the body.
- Stage three brings loss of balance and slowed movement.
- Stage four makes it impossible for one to live independently.
- Stage five is the most severe, as patients cannot stand or walk. Hallucinations and delusions are common symptoms of this stage.
Parkinson’s disease occurs due to the death of motor neurons, some of which produce dopamine. Dopamine is important in the transmittance of messages to the muscles from the brain, so the loss of dopamine results in the loss of motor functions. Abnormal brain activity occurs when these neurons are lost. Doctors do not know why these motor neurons die, but they do suspect a few factors that play a role, such as genetics, environmental factors like toxins, and Lewy bodies.
About ATH434
This leading drug candidate, previously named PBT434, is a small molecule that was created to stop pathological proteins from clustering together and accumulating, therefore treating neurodegeneration. In previous studies, ATH434 has demonstrated the ability to lower the amount of tau and α-synuclein in the brains of animal models. Researchers believe that it can treat Parkinson’s, progressive supranuclear palsy, and multiple system atrophy.
Funding for ATH434
The Michael J. Fox Foundation granted Alterity $495,000, all of which will be used to determine the proper dosage of ATH434 in trials moving forward. Using a primate model, researchers will investigate the pharmacologic profile of the drug candidate.
Previous research has demonstrated that ATH434 has the ability to treat motor and non-motor symptoms. This research is exciting for doctors and patients, as Parkinson’s disease currently faces an unmet medical need in terms of treatment.
Find the source article here.
