Herantis Pharma publishes an introductory video on its drug candidate CDNF for the treatment of Parkinson's disease
Herantis Pharma Plc
Press release 29 March 2018 at 9:00 am
Herantis Pharma Plc ("Herantis") has published an introductory video explaining how its innovative drug candidate CDNF works. The video is available online on Herantis' website at http://herantis.com/media/videos/. The development of CDNF aims at a breakthrough in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
"As part of our EU funded collaboration with the European Parkinson's disease association EPDA we want to increase knowledge on Parkinson's disease", comments Pekka Simula, Herantis' CEO. "This video briefly explains the disease and shows how our CDNF aims to protect the dopamine producing nerve cells from degeneration. This could slow down or even stop disease progression."
Herantis launched the first-in-human clinical study with CDNF in 2017. This Phase 1-2, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study assesses the safety and initial efficacy of CDNF compared to placebo in 18 patients with Parkinson's disease. The study is conducted at three university hospitals in Finland and Sweden and its patient recruitment is intended to be completed in 2018. More information on the clinical study is available on the project's website at https://treater.eu/.
Further information:
Herantis Pharma plc, Pekka Simula, CEO, telephone: +358 40 7300 445
Company web site: www.herantis.com
About Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a slowly progressing, incurable neurodegenerative disease caused by the death of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain. Common first symptoms of the disease include tremors, rigidity, and slowness of movement. While the motor symptoms can be treated with medication the progression of the disease cannot be prevented. The benefits of medication may be lost with disease progression or their side effects can become unmanageable. The progressing disease is also associated with non-motor symptoms such as sleep problems, depression, and anxiety, which are not alleviated by current Parkinson's drugs. It is estimated that 7 million people worldwide suffer from Parkinson's disease.
About CDNF
CDNF is a novel drug candidate for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Naturally present in the human blood circulation and cerebrospinal fluid, CDNF is a protein with neuroprotective and neurorestorative properties, patented internationally by Herantis. Encouraged by strong preclinical proof-of-concept Herantis has launched a first-in-human, randomized Phase 1-2 clinical study with CDNF in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). The clinical study has received funding from the European Union's research and innovation program Horizon 2020 under grant agreement number 732386.
CDNF administration has been safe in preclinical studies and in first clinical treatments. In disease models, CDNF has protected and regenerated dopamine-generating cells in the midbrain suggesting potential for disease modification of PD. It has also shown efficacy in non-motor symptoms of PD. CDNF has in addition shown promising efficacy in initial preclinical studies in the treatment of ALS. CDNF drug development is based on research at the University of Helsinki, led by professor Mart Saarma.
About drug development in general
Drug development projects can usually be divided in two stages: the preclinical stage, and the clinical stage involving human subjects. The clinical stage can be further broken down in three formal phases. Phase 1 clinical studies assess the safety of a drug candidate in human subjects. In Phase 2, the optimal dosing and possible efficacy in the treatment of a particular disease is studied. Phase 3 studies finally aim to establish a statistical proof of safety and efficacy of the drug candidate in typically hundreds or thousands of patients for market approval. Drug development can take 10-15 years from the first preclinical studies to market approval.
About Herantis Pharma Plc
Herantis Pharma Plc is an innovative drug development company focused on regenerative medicine and unmet clinical needs. Our clinical stage assets CDNF and Lymfactin® are based on globally leading scientific research in their fields. They both aim at breakthrough in the treatment of severe diseases: CDNF in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease and ALS; and Lymfactin® in breast cancer associated lymphedema with potential also in other lymphedemas. The shares of Herantis are listed on the First North Finland marketplace run by Nasdaq Helsinki stock exchange.
Distribution:
Nasdaq Helsinki
Main media
www.herantis.com