ROAD TO THE CURE UPDATE MARCH 2013

The momentum in the SDBC’s Road to the Cure continues to accelerate. The interest of world renowned scientists and perhaps the world’s largest Parkinson’s Foundation have been coming forth. As the first Parkinson’s Organization to recognize and embrace the SDBC, Parkinson’s Resource Organization continues its work of bringing this historical information to the world.

1. Scientific News:

i. Alpha-Syn and LRRK2 Transgenic Mice

The San Diego Biotech Company (SDBC) reports a new collaboration with the Michael J Fox Foundation (MJFF), which started in January, 2013, and which has been very beneficial so far. The MJFF has provided various strains of Parkinson’s-like transgenic mice at its cost to the San Diego Biotech Company. The academic institutions were charging enormous licensing fees for the same strains of mice. The collaboration with the MJFF thus far has saved the Company in excess of $100K in licensing fees, which has significantly facilitated the research and discovery efforts for the development of therapeutic treatment for this neurodegenerative disorder.

Likewise, LRRK2 transgenic mice will also be provided by MJFF to the SDBC.

The Company plans to start breeding alpha-syn and LRRK2 transgenic mice to produce a large colony of these mice for pharmacokinetics, bio distribution, and PET imaging studies in collaboration with Van Andel Research Institute of Grand Rapids, Michigan and UCLA. “It is a blessing to work with the MJFF who is very helpful in providing needed assistance”, says the president of the SDBC.

ii. Mutant LRRK2 Gene

Mutant LRRK2 is responsible for early onset of Parkinson’s disease at or around the age of 50. LRRK2-Parkinson’s is characterized by features consistent with idiopathic Parkinson’s: initial motor features of slowly progressive asymmetric tremor at rest and/or bradykinesia, cog-wheel muscle rigidity, postural instability, and gait abnormalities including festination and freezing. Non-motor symptoms in LRRK2-related Parkinson’s occur with the same frequency as observed in typical idiopathic Parkinson’s.

Diagnosis/testing

Currently, the diagnosis of LRRK2-related Parkinson’s relies mainly on clinical findings and the identification of a disease-causing mutation in LRRK2.

Treatment of Disease Manifestation

L-dopa, combined with carbi-dopa, provides short-term symptomatic relief.

ii.a. SDBC’s Approach- Development of Mutant-LRRK2 Picobody®

The SDBC just found out that it has developed a Picobody® specific only for mutant LRRK2, without any cross-reactivity with natural form of LRRK2. The SDBC believes that this is a significant achievement in itself with a potential to bring the SDBC’s technology one step closer to clinically useful diagnosis and treatment of this condition.

Mutant-LRRK2 protein is an enormously expensive protein. The SDBC is working hard to raise enough funds to take LRRK2 project to its finishing lines.

2. Operational News

Due to the expiration of its lease, the SDBC has to relocate. For the last four years, the SDBC has been leasing 5,000 sq. ft. of lab space in a big suite consisting of 15,000 sq. ft. for a very reasonable and affordable rent. The landlord has found a new tenant who has signed a lease on the entire 15,000 sq. ft. suite at a rate unaffordable to the SDBC; therefore, the SDBC has to relocate into a smaller suite. The last day at the present facility is March 17.

If you would like to be a part of this historic, humanitarian effort. The only impediment to getting to the human side of this science is funding. The sooner the funds are raised the sooner human clinical trials can begin.