Sanofi and Michael J Fox Foundation to research Parkinson’s drug

Sanofi is to collaborate with the Michael J Fox Foundation to carry out a clinical trial of a promising new therapy option for Parkinson's disease.

The phase Ib study will evaluate the safety and tolerability of AVE 8112, a PDE4 inhibitor developed by Sanofi that has shown signs of pro-cognitive ability in preclinical trials.

Patient enrolment for the trial, which will be held in the US, will commence later this year and will form the basis of further development plans, with all data and results from the research to be owned by the foundation.

This ties in with Sanofi's long-term goal of fostering partnerships with private foundations in order to ensure its resources are used effectively, while addressing unmet clinical needs.

Dr Elias Zerhouni, president for global research and development at Sanofi, said: "Through this research collaboration, together we will be able to study Sanofi's pharmaceutical compound for a possible new treatment for Parkinson's disease patients around the world."

Last month, the company announced the acquisition of Pluromed, a deal which will greatly expand its presence in the biosurgery field.