iLCT Pipeline Research Acceleration Programme

The iLCT is a global programme centred around an annual two-day meeting at which a committee of over 20 world-leading Parkinson’s experts evaluate, rank, and prioritise drugs and compounds – many from other disease areas – with the potential to be repurposed or repositioned to modify the progression of Parkinson’s.

Categories

• Empagliflozin
  • This is a competitive inhibitor of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) with antihyperglycemic activity. Epidemiological evidence suggests that administration of this drug is associated with reduced risk of Parkinson’s.
  • They are seeking data surrounding target engagement, as well as additional in vivo work determining neuroprotective potential.
• Theracurmin
  • Despite preclinical results indicating interesting biological properties, curcumin has poor bioavailability. Theracurmin is a slow-release nanoparticle formulation of curcumin that enhances the pharmacokinetics of the active agent.
  • They are particularly interested in assessing dosing ranges and brain penetrance in in vivo models of Parkinson’s.
• Pyridoxal-5′-phosphate
  • This is the biologically active form of vitamin B6. It is a cofactor for more than 70 human enzyme-catalysed reactions, and has been reported to be neuroprotective.
  • Cure Parkinson’s would like to gather more pre-clinical data on this compound. Specifically, they would like to see an evaluation of neuroprotective potential.
• Alogliptin
  • This is a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DDP-4) inhibitor that is used in the treatment of diabetes. Epidemiological investigations have indicated that treatment with this agent is associated with a reduced risk of Parkinson’s.
  • They are interested in assessing alogliptin in pre-clinical models of Parkinson’s.

Funding Information

• Max project cost:
  • Up to £250,000 GBP, preferably less.
    • Applications must provide a detailed and realistic justification of project costs.
    • Applications for the maximum £250,000 grant should include some of the optional additional assessments.
• Max project duration:
  • Up to 18 months, preferably shorter. (Projects should begin by the end of 2025.)
    • Applications must provide a detailed and realistic justification of the project timeline.
    • Applications for the maximum 18-month period should include some of the optional additional assessments.

Application Requirements

• Every year this programme will call for expressions of interest and subsequent applications for funding based on specified project outlines developed by Cure Parkinson’s from the iLCT committee feedback, to test one or more therapies that has been evaluated by iLCT but requires further research before moving into clinical trial. These project outlines will include details such as:
  • The therapy (or therapies) to be tested
  • The type of models to be used
  • Any specific assessments to be included
  • Max project cost
  • Max project duration (typically 6 -18 months)
• Expressions of interest received will be reviewed internally to ensure they meet the project criteria before applicants are invited to work with Cure Parkinson’s to submit a full application.

For more information, visit Cure Parkinson’s.