Leveraging Selvita's expertise in protein degradation and neuroscience, Professor Tofaris and his team have collaborated with Selvita to develop promising initial compounds that facilitate the efficient clearance of alpha-synuclein aggregates
University of Oxford announces partnership with Selvita to advance potential therapeutics for Parkinson's disease. (Credit: Chokniti Khongchum from Pixabay)
The University of Oxford and Selvita have collaborated to advance the drug discovery in the area of Parkinson’s disease.
Whilst Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder affecting approximately seven million people worldwide, there are only symptomatic therapies available. At the molecular level, it is caused by the accumulation of a small protein called alpha-synuclein which forms aggregates within vulnerable neurons. The cells’ inability to effectively eliminate these aggregates may result in neuronal death and the manifestation of characteristic disease symptoms.
Professor George Tofaris and his team at the University of Oxford have identified crucial factors involved in protein disposal that impact the aggregation of alpha-synuclein, which could serve as important targets for drug intervention and disease modification.
Leveraging Selvita’s expertise in protein degradation and neuroscience, Professor Tofaris and his team have collaborated with Selvita to develop promising initial compounds that facilitate the efficient clearance of alpha-synuclein aggregates.
The project is now being continued with the objective of advancing these compounds further along the drug discovery pipeline by enhancing their pharmacological properties and efficacy.
University of Oxford Neurology and Translational Neuroscience Professor George Tofaris said: “There is extensive evidence from genetics and pathology implicating alpha-synuclein aggregates as the cause of Parkinson’s. Therefore, promoting the ability of nerve cells to rid themselves of these aggregates is a rational therapeutic strategy in this group of diseases.”
Selvita Drug Discovery Europe and Asia sales vice president Edyta Jaworska said: “Combination of Selvita’s drug discovery expertise and the world-class innovative research conducted at the University of Oxford, create this exquisite collaboration which holds an immense potential to address the urgent need for disease-modifying treatments to combat Parkinson’s disease. We are very excited to continue working with Prof. Tofaris and his team.”