Thursday, February 8, 2024

From research to reality: The five steps in drug development

Developing a new drug from original idea to the launch of a finished product is a complex process which can take 12–15 years and cost in excess of $1 billion. The idea for a target can come from a variety of sources, including academic and clinical research and from the commercial sector.

It may take many years to build up a body of supporting evidence before selecting a target for a costly drug discovery program. Once a target has been chosen, the pharmaceutical industry and more recently some academic centers have streamlined a number of early processes to identify molecules which possess suitable characteristics to make acceptable drugs. 

But why does it take so long and cost so much? Click here to learn the five key steps in drug development.

EPA ignores science linking herbicide to Parkinson’s disease

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week released proposed findings that dispute scientific proof accepted by fifty-eight countries, including China and members of the European Union, that farmworkers and agricultural communities exposed to the herbicide paraquat are more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease (PD).

In response to a legal challenge brought by Earthjustice, the EPA prepared a new analysis of issues raised in its 2021 registration review decision for paraquat. That analysis largely affirms the findings in the organization's prior registration, including its dismissal of scientific evidence connecting paraquat use and PD. The EPA admitted that it also did not consider dozens of studies submitted by the Michael J. Fox Foundation in its revaluation. Click here to learn more.

Transforming Tourette's treatment: Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT)

Dr. Jeremy Lichtman, a licensed psychologist specializing in Tourette patients, sheds light on the management of Tourette Syndrome (TS) through Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT), exploring its intricacies and role as a transformative tool rather than a cure. Dr. Lichtman addresses misconceptions about CBIT and identifying ideal candidates, and differentiates between TS and its comorbidities for effective treatment. Click here to view video.

HD Immune opens with work into antibody treatment for Huntington’s

A newly launched company based in Vienna,, HD Immune, is working to develop an antibody treatment for Huntington’s disease (HD). The potential therapy showed promise in a mouse model, according to a recent study published in Neurobiology of Disease.

“HD Immune starts in a position where we have very impressive pre-clinical data demonstrating the efficacy of treating transgenic model of [HD] with our lead monoclonal antibody,” according to Stefan Bartl, PhD, CEO of HD Immune and the study’s lead author.

The researchers’ antibody, dubbed C6-17, is designed to stick to the huntingtin protein. Findings showed that after three months of treatment, the antibody reduced levels of the mutated protein by 15% in the striatum, the part of the brain that’s hit hard by Huntington’s. Click here to learn more.

Parkinson’s clinical trial of NouvNeu001 doses first patient

iRegene Therapeutics Co., Ltd announced that NouvNeu001, a chemically induced human dopaminergic neuron precursor from iPSC, has completed dosing for its first patient at Beijing Hospital and that the patient has successfully concluded the observation period. Last year, the National Medical Products Administration of China officially approved the Phase I/II clinical trial of NouvNeu001, designed to assess the safety, tolerability and efficacy in treating moderate to advanced Parkinson's disease.

iRegene Therapeutics has developed an extensive pipeline of universal iPSC-derived products. The company is dedicated to advancing universal cell therapy products and introducing novel treatment alternatives for traditionally "incurable" neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's. Click here to learn more.