Palaszczuk Government backs promising treatment pathway for deadly brain disorders

A promising new pathway for treatment of deadly brain disorders has received almost $1 million in funding from the Palaszczuk Government.

Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy Leeanne Enoch said today (Sunday) researchers at The University of Queensland were well advanced in the development of a new treatment for diseases such as motor neurone disease (MND) and Huntington’s disease (HD).

“These inflammatory brain conditions take the lives of three Queenslanders every week, which is why the Palaszczuk Government is supporting this vital research with $960,000 as part of the $15 million Advance Queensland Innovation Partnerships program,” Ms Enoch said.

“With no cure available for MND or HD, and no treatments to considerably slow or halt disease progression, the work of UQ’s Associate Professor Trent Woodruff and his research team is extremely encouraging.”

Dr Woodruff said his team had discovered a disease-modifying drug that could significantly slow disease progression in experimental models of MND and HD.

“Our Queensland-based industry partner Alsonex has recently developed a novel manufacture scale-up process, and has obtained the international approvals necessary for the drug’s clinical development,” Dr Woodruff said.

“Importantly, we recently demonstrated in experimental models of MND that the target molecule PMX205 can cross the blood-brain barrier and extend survival by slowing down muscle degeneration.

“Advance Queensland Innovation Partnerships funding will help us to confirm the activity of PMX205 in preclinical models of MND and HD, and complete the formal preclinical safety and efficacy studies required by regulatory agencies to enable human trials.”

Dr Woodruff said that within the project’s three-year timeframe, his team expected to sponsor a first-in-human clinical trial in Queensland.

“We have assembled an experienced team with extensive scientific, technical and clinical knowledge of drug development to progress the development of PMX205,” he said.

The Innovation Partnerships program boosts productivity growth and the competitiveness of existing industries, accelerates the development of emerging industries, and increases the speed and scale of translation of our science and research into new products, services and business models that can help drive economic and jobs growth in Queensland.

This research is one of nine initiatives funded under the most recent round of the Innovation Partnerships program.

Advance Queensland is the Palaszczuk Government’s $420 million suite of initiatives to transform the state’s economy, create knowledge jobs of the future and build Queensland’s reputation as a global innovation and investment destination.

For more information on the Innovation Partnerships program and funded projects, visit the Advance Queensland website.

ENDS

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