Amgen Tests New Drug to Combat Parkinson’s

Amgen and Guilford Pharmaceuticals have begun clinical testing of a class of compounds known as neuroimmunophilins.

The initial study, which is being conducted in Europe, focuses on safety and tolerability. Officials hope the product will be useful in treating Parkinson’s disease.

In 1997, Amgen licensed from Guilford the worldwide rights for the neuroimmunophilins, a class of small molecule agents. In preclinical studies, including models of Parkinson’s disease, the compounds demonstrated a potential to promote nerve regeneration and repair.

“We are pleased to be able to advance Amgen’s second small-molecule product candidate into clinical testing,” said Gordon Binder, chairman and chief executive of Thousand Oaks-based Amgen. “This represents our growing commitment to the field of small-molecule drug development. More importantly, it is a further effort to advance the needed treatment of patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease.”

Guilford Pharmaceuticals, based in Baltimore, is a research company that focuses on treating cancer as well as making products to diagnose and treat neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, severe head trauma, spinal cord injuries and multiple sclerosis.