Neurodegenerative disease therapeutics company Vincere Biosciences has been awarded a research grant of $700,000 by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The Phase I Small Business Innovation Research grant will support research aimed at evaluating the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of Vincere’s mitophagy enhancing USP30 inhibitor molecule in Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s disease is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by the progressive deterioration of motor functions, including tremors, stiffness, and impaired movement. Currently, treatment options for Parkinson’s disease primarily focus on managing symptoms, and there is an urgent need for novel therapeutic approaches.

Vincere, which recently secured strategic funding from two Korean pharma companies, specializes in mitophagy-based therapeutics for neurodegenerative and other age-related diseases. The longevity biotech is developing small molecules specifically designed to enhance the removal of damaged mitochondria, potentially offering a new approach capable of slowing down or halting the progression of Parkinson’s.

“We are thankful to the expert reviewers at NINDS for supporting our efforts to test our small molecules in models of Parkinson’s disease,” said Dr Bahareh Spring Behrouz, CEO of Vincere Biosciences, and primary investigator on the project.

The two-year research project will be conducted in collaboration with Dr Michael Henderson an assistant professor at the Van Andel Institute, using an α-synuclein pre-formed fibril model of Parkinson’s disease.

“I’m thrilled to embark on this collaborative research journey with Vincere Biosciences as we work together to unlock new possibilities in the fight against Parkinson’s disease,” said Henderson, who is co-primary investigator on the project.