Research projects from five groups involved in Parkinson’s research comprise the 2014 first half (1H 2014) of The Michael J. Fox Foundation Partnering Program. Among the most promising in the MJFF portfolio, Partnering Program participants’ research projects are presented directly to industry groups who may wish to invest in further development of the project. By connecting industry leaders with those studies ripe for investment, the Foundation aims to drive forward promising research in Parkinson’s disease (PD) through the pipeline of drug development and eventually into patients’ hands.

Selected for the 1H 2014 MJFF Partnering Program are:

• Cynapsus Therapeutics, Inc.’s development of an easy-to-use oral thin film strip for the acute rescue of “off” motor symptoms of PD.
• Focused Ultrasound Foundation’s clinical testing of focused ultrasound as a noninvasive approach for the treatment of dyskinesia.
• M3 Biotechnology, Inc.’s pre-clinical testing of its MM-201 lead compound, an orally bioavailable small molecule, to restore function of slow progression of PD.
• Neuropore Therapies, Inc.’s pre-clinical testing of its lead compound targeting the accumulation of alpha-synuclein in cell membranes.
• STATegics, Inc.’s pre-clinical testing of its compound to protect against the ongoing loss of dopaminergic neurons, with the ultimate goal of slowing the progression of PD.

To read more on the selected participants and past Partnering Program projects, visit the Partnering Program Web page.