DOYLESTOWN, PA — Kannalife Sciences, Inc. has received a $1.49 million grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF). This funding will support preclinical research on Kannalife’s lead therapeutic, KLS-13019, aimed at combating neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction, both critical factors in Parkinson’s disease.
KLS-13019 is part of a new class of orally bioavailable drugs developed by Kannalife. These drugs target specific proteins and inflammasomes implicated in neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases. Parkinson’s disease, affecting up to 2% of those aged 60 and older, is the fastest-growing neurodegenerative movement disorder.
Douglas Brenneman, PhD, Chief Pharmacologist at Kannalife and Principal Investigator of the study, expressed gratitude for the grant. “We are honored to receive this grant support from The Michael J. Fox Foundation, a leading organization dedicated to accelerating the development of improved therapies for Parkinson’s disease. We are confident that we can make meaningful progress toward this goal and, ultimately, improve the lives of patients living with Parkinson’s,” he said.
Kannalife’s innovative approach leverages its patented technology to address neuroinflammatory disorders. The company focuses on the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) GPR55 and the NLRP3 inflammasome. Preliminary research indicates that KLS-13019 effectively targets biological processes in the mitochondria, particularly mNCX-1, which could be crucial in addressing unmet needs in inflammatory diseases.
Jessica Tome Garcia, PhD, Associate Director of Research Programs at MJFF, emphasized the importance of this research. “This funding highlights the Foundation’s commitment to advancing Parkinson’s therapeutic research by addressing neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction, two key factors in the disease,” she stated.
Advancing Parkinson’s Treatment: KLS-13019 Breakthroughs and Beyond
The potential implications of this research are significant. Neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction are major contributors to neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease. By targeting these areas, KLS-13019 could offer a novel therapeutic pathway that may slow or even reverse the progression of the disease.
Kannalife Sciences is also conducting small pre-clinical model efficacy studies, chemical scale-up, and toxicology studies for KLS-13019, supported by an STTR Phase 2 study grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) under the NIH HEAL Initiative. Successful completion of these studies would pave the way for human clinical trials, initially targeting chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).
This grant from MJFF emphasizes the broad scientific validation and potential of KLS-13019. As research progresses, it could lead to groundbreaking treatments not only for Parkinson’s but for other neuroinflammatory conditions as well, marking a significant step forward in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases.
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