Minerva Neurosciences Reports Positive Data Showing an Analog of Minerva's MIN-301 Compound Improves Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease in Primates
Results provide further support for research involving use of neuregulin-1 compounds in treatment of Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative disorders
"We believe that MIN-301 and its analog are functionally identical and that this data provides further support for advancing MIN-301 into clinical trials for the treatment of Parkinson's disease in humans," stated Dr.
In the pre-clinical study, Parkinson's disease symptoms were induced in marmosets by a standard protocol using subcutaneous injections of MPTP neurotoxin. Daily treatment with either the analog or saline vehicle was initiated one week prior to Parkinson's induction with MPTP and continued for eight weeks. In both treatment groups, disease-modifying efficacy was measured as it related to changes in clinical signs, motor symptoms and motor function. Clinical signs were scored on a semi-quantitative scale of clinical Parkinsonian symptoms. Motor symptoms were assessed using the abnormal involuntary movements scale (AIMS), which includes assessments of extremity and trunk movements, facial expressions, and movements of the lips, peri-oral area, tongue and jaw. Motor function was evaluated using the Bungalow test, which records the number of compartment changes as a measure of locomotor activity.
Subjects treated with a daily subcutaneous injection of the MIN-301 analog showed greater improvements in Parkinsonian clinical score, AIMS and locomotor activity (Bungalow test) compared to vehicle. The strongest improvements in the analog-treated population were obtained during periods of slower disease progression. Previous research in rodent models of Parkinson's disease has shown that MIN-301 has the potential to restore motor function. Results from the Primomed study involving an analog of MIN-301 were consistent with these previous results.
Neuregulins play key roles in myelination, neuronal integrity and cognition-related signaling. Neuregulin-1 has been shown to have neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects on dopaminergic neurons. A number of studies have also demonstrated the association of neuregulin-1 with brain pathologies including schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. These features, combined with the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, make neuregulin-1 and its variants attractive for therapeutic purposes in Parkinson's.
In previous research both MIN-301 and its analog have been found to have the same level of activity in vitro in phosphorylation of ErBB3 receptors. Research involving multiple pre-clinical models mimicking Parkinson's symptoms has been carried out with MIN-301. The non-human primate MPTP model used in the Primomed study is the only animal model of early Parkinson's that replicates the progressive development of symptoms alongside progressive neurodegeneration.
About the
Primomed, sponsored by the
About Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a widespread and progressive neurodegenerative disorder resulting in disabling motor impairment. Parkinson's is the most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease, and currently has no cure. The average age at which symptoms begin to develop is 55-60 years. While a range of medications and surgical interventions is available to treat some of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, no therapy has been shown to either prevent or cure the disease. Parkinson's disease is associated with a range of medical and societal costs, including frequent medical interventions and hospitalizations, loss of productivity, inability to work, and diminished quality of life for patients and care partners.
About
Forward-Looking Safe-Harbor Statement:
This press release contains forward-looking statements which are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts, reflect management's expectations as of the date of this press release, and involve certain risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include statements herein with respect to whether the results of the study of the analog of MIN-301 are applicable to MIN-301; the timing and results of future clinical milestones; the timing of future clinical trials and results of clinical trials regarding MIN-301; clinical and therapeutic potential of MIN-301; our ability to successfully develop and commercialize MIN-301; and management's ability to successfully achieve its goals. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and may differ
materially from actual results due to a variety of factors including, without limitation, whether the analog of MIN-301 is a good predictor of clinical efficacy of MIN-301; whether MIN-301 or any of our other therapeutic products will advance further in the clinical trials process and whether and when, if at all, they will receive final approval from the
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