GlaxoSmithKline agrees collaboration with ProteoTech

GlaxoSmithKline has entered into a new collaboration with ProteoTech on the development of a new therapy for Parkinson's disease.

The drug development agreement will see the firms allying to utilise ProteoTech's small molecule technology platform against misfolded proteins to advance work on an alpha-synuclein therapeutic programme.

This research is thought to offer potential benefits for the treatment of Parkinson's and other synucleinopathies, with initial support for the scheme coming from the Michael J Fox Foundation (MJFF) for Parkinson's Research.

Dr Todd Shearer, chief executive of MJFF, said the progress made by the research so far vindicates the decision to award a funding grant to ProteoTech.

Steve Runnels, chief executive officer of ProteoTech, added: "We are pleased to be working with GlaxoSmithKline on the identification and optimisation of new therapeutic compounds for Parkinson's and other synucleinopathies, such as Lewy body dementia and multiple system atrophy."

This comes after GlaxoSmithKline announced an expansion of its global pneumococcal vaccination partnership with the GAVI Alliance earlier this week.