In December, Denali Therapeutics announced positive results from its first-in-human LRRK2 inhibitor clinical trial. The experimental treatment is safe, and it lowers LRRK2 protein activity in humans’ body cells. This is a meaningful milestone in the clinical development of a drug with potential to slow or stop Parkinson’s progression (something no currently available treatment can do).
Denali also shared it is testing a second compound in a separate Phase I trial in control volunteers. Following completion of both trials, one of the two compounds will move into studies in people with Parkinson’s carrying a LRRK2 mutation.
In a press release, the company announced its first trial showed greater than 90 percent inhibition of LRRK2 activity at peak drug levels. This is a critical early step in testing a drug — does it do what you want it to do in the cell? Denali used two tests to measure inhibition, including one based on a finding from a Michael J. Fox Foundation-organized consortium linking LRRK2 to another protein.
“Mutations in LRRK2 are a major risk factor for Parkinson’s disease. Targeting this degenogene represents a promising approach to develop disease-modifying medicines,” said Ryan Watts, PhD, Denali CEO.
Read more on the findings and next steps.
Article from Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.