Cure Parkinson’s and Van Andel Institute (VAI) are delighted to welcome a third strategic funding partner, The John Black Charitable Foundation (JBCF), to the International Linked Clinical Trials (iLCT) programme.

Together, these three partners have pledged a total of USD $6.75 million to Parkinson’s research, over three years. 

This funding will support the International Linked Clinical Trials initiative (iLCT), a thriving global programme that aims to develop new, potentially disease-modifying Parkinson’s therapies, many of which are repurposed medications originally designed or approved to treat other diseases.

We are thrilled that our long-standing collaboration with Cure Parkinson’s on the International Linked Clinical Trials initiative has received this large funding commitment from the John Black Charitable Foundation.

Professor Patrik Brundin, Chair of the Linked Clinical Trials committee and Director, Van Andel Center for Neurodegenerative Science (VAI)

Candidate drugs are evaluated and prioritised annually by a committee of world-leading Parkinson’s experts, who select which drugs should enter clinical trials in people with Parkinson’s. These drugs have the potential to reach the clinic much faster as they have already passed all necessary safety tests.

Currently, 15 trials of drugs evaluated by the committee are underway and seven trials have been completed. In addition, a further 10 trials are in the planning stages. To date, iLCT has included more than 2500 trial participants. Since its inception in 2012, Cure Parkinson’s and VAI’s involvement has ensured that each year the iLCT initiative goes from strength to strength as progressively more clinical trials of potentially disease-modifying drugs are brought into the programme. 

This new agreement follows funding arrangements between Cure Parkinson’s, VAI and JCBF that supported the recent clinical trial of ambroxol, a respiratory drug that was prioritised by the iLCT committee in 2014 for its potential to modify the progression of Parkinson’s. 

The involvement of JBCF in iLCT funding over the next three years, alongside VAI and Cure Parkinson’s, is hugely welcome in the light the adverse effects of COVID-19 on fundraising. In 2020, Cure Parkinson’s fundraising income dropped dramatically, with 95% of its fundraising events cancelled. Matched-funding by JBCF, VAI and Cure Parkinson’s will make a huge difference: vital research into a cure for Parkinson’s catalysed by the iLCT programme will continue and expand even in these uncertain and challenging times.

“We are thrilled that our long-standing collaboration with Cure Parkinson’s on the International Linked Clinical Trials initiative has received this large funding commitment from the John Black Charitable Foundation, and look forward to expanding our programme to evaluate additional promising medications in the coming years.  We continue to be in debt to the trial participants, without whom this critical work would not be possible. I am immensely hopeful that, together, we will find a way to slow or stop Parkinson’s progression.”

Professor Patrik Brundin, Van Andel Institute

“This is fantastic news. In a year when charity and research news has been dominated by COVID-19, it is wonderful to able to share such positive news about Parkinson’s, iLCT and potential cures. We are hugely grateful to the John Black Charitable Foundation and the trust they have shown in Cure Parkinson’s, VAI and the groundbreaking work of our iLCT committee. Every penny donated will be used to deliver clinical trials in the programme. We have now prioritised several drugs with promise which are not yet in trial, and this money will enable us to support trials for several of these. This is exciting, as all the prioritised drugs have the potential to take us closer to our goal: a cure for the 10 million people worldwide living with Parkinson’s.”

Will Cook, CEO, Cure Parkinson’s

“The massive clinical undertaking involving so many drugs repurposed from other therapeutic areas is unique not only in neurology, but is larger than any drug repositioning programme, whether academic or commercial, in any other disease. The scientific collaboration, and funding partnership, between VAI and Cure Parkinson’s has produced scientific rigour, creativity and, of course, numerous clinical trials of drugs, each with strong potential to slow or stop the progression of Parkinson’s. With the further funding agreed with JBCF, we look forward to continuing and accelerating the iLCT programme in the years ahead, until we find a cure.”

Dr Richard Wyse, Director of Research & Development, Cure Parkinson’s

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