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news.Neurobiological Technologies and the Buck Institute for Age Research have formed a partnership to develop a drug to treat Huntington's disease, a fatal hereditary brain disorder that affects approximately 30,000 Americans.
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The research involves fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), a naturally occurring protein that has been studied extensively for its neuroprotective properties. After being treated with FGF-2, mice with Huntington’s disease (HD) showed a 150% increase in new nerve cells, compared to a 30% increase in non-HD mice. Treatment with FGF-2 extended the lifespan of the affected mice by 20% and the animals also exhibited improved motor performance, decreased cell death and a reduction in the amount of toxic aggregates that typically form in the brains of those affected by HD. Buck scientists will now seek to create a form of FGF-2 that can be moved into human clinical trials.
Paul Freiman, president and CEO of NTI, said: “We look forward to applying our expertise in drug development to this partnership and working to bring this important research from the lab to the patient.”