Alkahest doses first patient in Phase 2 trial for Parkinson’s therapy

• Alkahest will initiate Phase 2 trial for AKST4290, an inhibitor to treat Parkinson’s disease
• The firm has been partly funded by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for the research

Alkahest, Inc., a biotech firm involved in the development of transformative therapies for the treatment of age-related diseases, recently announced that the dosing of first patient in AKST4290’s Phase 2 clinical trial was completed. AKST4290 is a CCR3 inhibitor that is orally administered to treat Parkinson’s disease.

Apparently, The Michael J. Fox Foundation has partly funded AKST4290-211 (TEAL) for the research on Parkinson’s and will be assessing its effect on motor function as well as daily living activities in patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

Alkahest chairman and chief executive officer, Karoly Nikolich, Ph.D., stated that evidence has proven that immune systems have an important role in the progression and development of Parkinson’s disease, which affects around one million Americans. AKST4290 tends to suppress chronic inflammation and pathways that are immune-mediated and is a critical step ahead in the treatment of the disease.

Nikolich also appreciated the support from the largest Parkinson’s non-profit funder in the world, Michael J. Fox Foundation, for the advancement of the program.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s chief executive officer, Todd Sherer commented that the greatest unmet requirement for a patient is a therapy that inhibits, slows or stops the progression of Parkinson’s disease. Sherer further added that AKST4290 is a novel approach towards the goal and the foundation is looking forward to having a better understanding of its possible impact on millions suffering from the disease as well as their close ones.

For the record, AKST4290-211 (TEAL) is a double-blind and placebo-controlled study that will be enrolling 120 subjects. These subjects shall be randomized with 400mg of AKST4290 or placebo that will be governed orally twice every day. The treatment shall be done over a period of 12 weeks and have 30 days of follow-up. The primary endpoint will be motor function while the secondary endpoint shall involve tolerability and safety.

 

Source Credit- https://www.alkahest.com/alkahest-initiates-a-phase-2-clinical-trial-of-akst4290-in-parkinsons-disease-with-funding-from-the-michael-j-fox-foundation/