Buck Institute and Neurobiological Technologies Partner to Develop Treatment for Huntington's Disease

Neurobiological Technologies, Inc. (NTI®) and the Buck Institute for Age Research (Buck) announced they have formed a partnership to develop a drug to treat Huntington's disease (HD), a fatal hereditary brain disorder that affects approximately 30,000 Americans.

The research involves fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), a naturally occurring protein that has been studied extensively for its neuroprotective properties.

Scientists at the Buck have used FGF-2, in both cell-based and animal models of HD. After being treated with FGF-2, mice with HD showed a 150 percent increase in new nerve cells, compared to a 30 percent increase in non-HD mice.

Treatment with FGF-2 extended the lifespan of the affected mice by 20 percent; 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.

"We are proud to be working with Buck on this project," said Paul E. Freiman, President and CEO of NTI. "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."

"The fact that FGF-2 has such dramatic effects specifically in HD models and is able to cross the blood-brain barrier shows exciting promise as potential new therapy for HD," said Remy Gross, Buck Institute Director of Business Development. "We are very pleased that NTI has recognized the unmet need among those facing HD; we look forward to working with them in this partnership."