Hedgehog Proteins Reduce Behavioral Impairment in Pre-Clinical Models of Parkinson's Disease
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BW HealthWire)--Feb. 25, 2002-- Curis, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRIS - news) Findings published in Experimental Neurology, a peer review journal, show that the treatment with Sonic Hedgehog protein (Shh), under development by Curis, reduces behavioral impairments and neural loss in a model of Parkinson's disease. These findings demonstrate that Shh and related compounds hold therapeutic promise for Parkinson's disease and other disorders of the nervous system.
The current study reported by our collaborators, Drs. Clifford Shults and Kyoko Tsuboi of the University of California, San Diego, utilized the ``6-OHDA model,'' a standard model used to mimic human Parkinson's disease. In this model, dopaminergic neurons (the type of brain cells involved in human Parkinson's disease) and their processes are damaged by administration of a toxin to the brain, resulting in brain damage and behavioral impairments representative of Parkinson's disease. The researchers analyzed behavior for several weeks after the brain injury, and examined the extent of brain damage. Administration of Shh was found to significantly reduce deficits in multiple behavioral tests and to cause preservation of the dopaminergic nerve fibers normally lost in this model. These findings demonstrate the utility of Shh for Parkinson's disease. In addition to studies on Shh protein, Curis has successfully identified and optimized novel small molecule compounds that mimic effects of Shh protein in the brain and also represent candidate therapeutics for Parkinson's. Together, these findings demonstrate the promise of using insights and molecules from developmental biology to identify novel therapeutics for neural disorders.
``The results of this study demonstrate that Shh activity can contribute to the survival and maturation of CNS regions. Furthermore, Shh is an inducer of cells in the normal development of the central nervous system, thus playing a role in the production of neurons for clinical intervention in these disorders, such as Parkinson's disease,'' said Daniel R. Passeri, President and Chief Executive Officer of Curis. ``These findings again define the potential of our therapeutic pipeline enhancing the commercial viability of our focus upon the hedgehog family of signaling molecules.''
On July 18, 2001, Curis announced that it had formed a business venture with Elan Corporation, Plc (``Elan''), that is committed to the research and development of molecules that stimulate the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway. The business venture is focused upon the development of therapeutics targeting a number of neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease. The data published in the Experimental Neurology articled preceded the establishment of the business venture but played an important role in defining the focus of the collaboration... |
