The project of Prof. Lingor, Rechts der Isar Hospital of the Technical University Munich, addresses new disease-modifying therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative disorders, e.g. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease. Prior work of his group demonstrated that inhibition of Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) resulted in histological and functional improvements in animal models of these neurodegenerative disorders. Based on these results, his group developed a currently ongoing clinical phase IIa trial to assess safety, tolerability and efficacy of the ROCK inhibitor Fasudil in patients with ALS (www.rock-als.uni-goettingen.de). The project that is currently funded by the EKFS aims to secure IP rights (coverage of patenting costs) and to support a clinical trial to study bioequivalence of orally applied Fasudil. Up to now, Fasudil has only beenlicensed for intravenous application. The present trial will assess if oral Fasudil application is equally safe and tolerable and whether orally applied Fasudil builds up levels in blood and cerebrospinal fluid that are comparable to its intravenous application. This is an important step that would allow to study Fasudil in chronic neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, in the future. 

Here you can get further information.

Project Partners:
MBM Sciencebridge, Göttingen
AtoZ-CRO, Overath
CTC North, Hamburg