Berg, Parkinson's Institute Ally for PD Dx and Drug Development

Berg Pharma and the Parkinson’s Institute established a partnership that aims to generate new insights into the molecular basis and progression of Parkinson Disease (PD) and provide new avenues for diagnostic and therapeutic development.

The collaboration will exploit Berg’s Interrogative Biology® discovery platform for identifying genomic, metabolomic, proteomic, and lipidomic signatures of disease, together with the Parkinson’s Institute's tissue repository. Under terms of the deal Berg will have access to clinically annotated tissue samples with specific PD-related characteristics and genomic features, including the LRKK2 mutation.

Berg is exploiting a suite of platforms to understand how changes in metabolism and metabolic control relate to disease onset. The platform is being exploited to identify and develop validated targets in a range of therapeutic fields, and build a product pipeline based on endogenous compounds in the body that act to normalize the disease microenvironment. Key therapeutic areas include cancer, metabolic disorders, central nervous system diseases, and inflammatory conditions.

A topical formulation of lead candidate 31510 is undergoing Phase III evaluation against skin cancer, and an intravenous formulation of the same drug is in Phase I or II development for treating solid tumors, rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, lupus, and inflammation. A second anticancer candidate 31543 is in Phase I studies for treating chemotherapy-induced alopecia (topical administration), and is undergoing IND-enabling studies as a potential treatment for chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression (IV formulation). The firm’s CNS R&D is centered on programs for autism, Alzheimer disease, and Parkinson disease.