CROs join with MJFF for Parkinson’s biomarker research

06-Jul-2010 - Last updated on 07-Jul-2010 at 08:57 GMT

Covance, Parexel and Epitomics are working with the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) to develop biomarker candidates.

Initiation of the projects is part of efforts by MJFF to progress biomarker research. MJFF said there is “urgent need for an orchestrated, fieldwide strategy to drive tangible progress” in the sector and contract research organisations (CRO) have a role to play in this initiative.

The latest step in this initiative is the launch of a number of projects in collaboration with Covance, Epitomics and Parexel. These projects include research into alpha-synuclein biomarkers led by Mark Fraiser, associate director of research programs at MJFF.

Further research to develop DJ-1 assays has also been commissioned. For this project MJFF is working with Un Kang of the University of Chicago Medical Center and Covance.

Nearly $1.1m (€870,000) has been allocated to fund the projects. MJFF sad The Brin Wojcicki Foundation has supported the latest projects. In total, MJFF claims to have invested $28m into the development of Parkinson’s biomarkers.

PPMI biomarker study

As part of its work in the sector MJFF is supporting the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI). This is a five-year clinical study aiming to identify biomarkers of Parkinson’s disease progression. MJFF plans to test the alpha-synuclein and DJ-1 assays as part of PPMI.

For PPMI 14 sites in the US and four in Europe are attempting to enrol 400 newly diagnosed Parkinson’s patients who are not currently taking standard medications for the disease. A further 200 individuals who do not have Parkinson’s are also being sought.

Recruiting a population of this size for the observational study is intended to give researchers sufficient data to draw meaningful scientific conclusions to help find better ways to measure Parkinson’s progression.