The Michael J. Fox Foundation Annual Report 2015 – Purpose. Partnership. Progress. | Page 22
Accelerating
toward a Cure
The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s ultimate goal is
the development of a treatment to slow, stop or
reverse disease progression. Currently, no such
treatment exists, but it is the only definition of
success we recognize.
Today, seven potential disease-modifying
therapies have progressed to clinical (human)
trials. MJFF has lent support to all as part of our
high-risk, high-impact approach:
FOUR TRIALS ARE TARGETING ALPHASYNUCLEIN, the protein that forms clumps in the
brains of people with Parkinson’s. In 2015, two
companies entered clinical testing: one therapy
seeks to bind to alpha-synuclein, preventing its
accumulation, and the second introduces antibodies
(the body’s natural disease fighters) against the
protein. Two additional companies are planning
Phase II trials of other antibody approaches. MJFF is
working closely with each through financial support
PHASE III TESTING FOR ISRADIPINE — a calcium
and/or collaboration on clinical trial design.
channel blocker currently prescribed to treat high
blood pressure — is progressing. MJFF funded pre-
IN SEPTEMBER, THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF
clinical work and the Phase II study. In early 2016,
HEALTH (NIH) ANNOUNCED FUNDING for a Phase
researchers shared a record pace of recruitment for
III trial of inosine, a precursor to the antioxidant
the NIH-funded Phase III trial, with more than 300
urate. Studies have shown that people with higher
volunteers enrolled last year.
levels of urate have lower risk for Parkinson’s or
slower rate of progression. The MJFF-funded Phase
MJFF ALSO IS FUNDING A PHASE I TRIAL of
II study showed that inosine is safe, tolerable and
nicotine patches based on strong data indicating a
does raise urate levels in people with early-stage PD.
reduced risk of PD in smokers. The study seeks to
determine possible biological connections between
nicotine and Parkinson’s.
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The Michael J. Fox Foundation