The studies, which were performed in collaboration with the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, suggest that AV-101 may have therapeutic potential for treating the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia.
“These studies suggest that AV-101 can both stimulate the firing of dopaminergic neurons, the neurons that die in Parkinson’s disease, and ‘reveal’ or activate dopaminergic neurons. We have not seen this type of dual activity in any other drug,” said Dr Sophie Erhardt, associate professor of Pharmacology at the Karolinska Institute.
“In addition, there is increasing evidence that an imbalance in the levels of kynurenic acid, a natural neuromodulator in the brain, is associated with schizophrenia. AV-101, as a prodrug analogue of kynurenic acid, has allowed us to identify one of the brain pathways most likely disturbed in schizophrenia,” Dr Erhardt continued.
VistaGen believes that these results will now offer a possibility of additional therapeutic applications for AV-101. If these results are repeated the company hopes to study the specific region of the brain that is damaged in Parkinson’s disease, which could lead to an expanded FDA application to cover additional indications.