Oncodesign and the LNGT Enter into a Research Collaboration
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Oncodesign and the Laboratory for Neurobiology and Gene Therapy (LNGT) at the department of neurosciences at the KU Leuven, an expert academic group exploring the roles of LRRK2 and a-synuclein in Parkinson’s disease headed by Professor Veerle Baekelandt, have announced that they have entered into a research collaboration to evaluate, with Ipsen, Oncodesign’s compounds in multiple pharmacology models for Parkinson's disease.
The collaboration builds on Oncodesign's LRRK2 program with advanced Nanocyclix® lead molecules that was partnered with Ipsen in January 2012.
“Our partnership with Ipsen on the discovery of novel therapeutic agents in Parkinson’s disease has advanced to a stage where we can use further in-depth expertise and advanced pharmacology models to position our leads. We are very excited to collaborate with KU Leuven to advance our understanding of both our inhibitors and the LRRK2 target,” said Jan Hoflack, Ph.D., chief scientific officer and head of Oncodesign's discovery activities.
“This collaboration with Oncodesign is a perfect example of translational research in action,” said Veerle Baekelandt, Ph.D., principle investigator of LNGT.
“Parkinson’s disease has been the focus of our research for more than ten years now. We are very pleased that Oncodesign has selected our lab as a partner for advancing their kinase program,” she added.
“We are thrilled that the expertise that our lab has built up from fundamental research on LRRK2 can be put to good use in evaluating and developing the biology aspects of compounds with therapeutic potential,” said Jean-Marc Taymans, Ph.D., group leader of LNGT.
“Ipsen and Oncodesign entered into a research collaboration last January for the development of new therapeutic agents against LRKK2 involved in Parkinson's disease, in line with our focus in neurology and movement disorders. We are delighted that our partnership with Oncodesign is moving forward as planned with the objective of developing therapeutics for Parkinson’s disease patients. The Oncodesign collaboration with LNGT will greatly accelerate the progress of this research program” stated Dr. Claude Bertrand, executive vice president, R&D, chief scientific officer at Ipsen.
Under the terms of the agreement, Oncodesign and LNGT will closely collaborate to advance Oncodesign's Parkinson’s disease program towards clinical development.
LNGT will receive full financial support from Oncodesign for these activities.
