The development studies have been funded by The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) 2011 Pipeline Program to support its ‘Therapeutic Development Initiative.’
PBT434 is an orally administered compound, which crosses into the brain to exert neuroprotective properties.
The studies also demonstrated that PBT434 could also impede the iron-induced oxidative damage and neurotoxic cascade that kills the substantia nigra, making it a new disease modifying therapeutic strategy to treat PD.
Prana executive chairman Geoffrey Kempler said based on the efficacy studies and completion of preclinical development assessments, Prana will look to move PBT434 into longer term toxicology studies in parallel to company’s scale up manufacturing plans for PBT434.
”All being well, we could file an IND by the end of next year and commence clinical trials in 2014," Kempler added.
"PBT434 also marks another product pipeline milestone for Prana to complement our two ongoing trials with PBT2 in Alzheimer’s disease and Huntington disease."
Parkinson’s disease causes the loss of muscle control, speech, balance and digestive functions and may also impair a patient’s psychiatric and cognitive function.