Parkinson's Disease (PD) Drug Discovery Service

Creative Biolabs develops and provides qualified services and products, creating value that exceeds expectations. At our core, we solve complex Parkinson's Disease (PD) therapeutic challenges together with our partners. Under the leadership of our project managers, we ensure that projects are carried out on time and achieve the highest quality results.

Overview of PD

PD is a major disease that cannot be predicted or cured. To find better treatments for PD or better prevention of clinical symptoms, scientists must decipher the causes of the disease. PD is a heterogeneous disorder mainly caused by genetic risk factors that, alone or possibly in combination with the environment, alter susceptibility to the disease. Identification of genetic risk factors for PD will provide insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms of the disease and thus contribute to the development of novel drugs that can prevent and/or counteract the disease.

Fig.1 Possible therapies for PD. (Maiti, 2017)

Drug Discovery in PD

Selective loss of DA neurons in the substantia nigra has led to a shift in treatment focus to dopamine replacement drugs such as L-dopa. Furthermore, dopamine-replacement drugs fail to address the degeneration observed in other brain areas. Ultimately, disease-modifying treatments are needed that address both the motor and non-motor symptoms of PD. Drug discovery for PD is no exception, with promising new compounds validated in preclinical stages often failing in development and expensive clinical trials. To increase success rates and reduce the financial burden of drug discovery, improvements should focus on the drug discovery pipeline itself. In particular, researchers should be focused on identifying and validating relevant targets and characterizing candidate drugs.

PD Models at Creative Biolabs

Establishing disease models is of great significance for understanding the pathophysiological mechanism of PD and developing new treatments to improve symptom management. For direct relevance to human PD, an ideal PD model should have the following characteristics: (1) easily detectable parkinsonian motor deficits; (2) selective and gradual loss of DA neurons developing with age; and (3) production of Lewy-body-like cytoplasmic inclusions. Recent gene technology has led to the development of several parkinsonian models.

• In Vivo Models

Studies using MPTP, 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), and rotenone have provided insights into the molecular mechanisms of dopaminergic neuronal death.

• In Vitro Models

Neurotoxins such as MPP+ and 6-OHDA are not suitable for systemic administration because they cannot cross the blood-brain barrier. However, their absorption into the brain synaptosomes is similar in primates and rodents, so they are useful in in vitro neuron culture

Services for PD Drug Development at Creative Biolabs

• In Vitro Services

Drug discoverers are turning their attention to more physiologically relevant cell models, including primary neurons and stem cells. A wide range of cellular systems has been used to model and investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms of PD. Improving drug discovery will require more relevant cellular models and advanced screening platforms that analyze neurons at the level of single cells, enabling multivariable modeling of disease-associated mechanisms.

1) Cell Culture Models

2) PD In Vitro Assay for Cell Viability and Cytotoxicity

3) Neuronal Plasticity Assay

4) Neuroinflammation Assay

5) Neurochemistry Assay

• Development Services

The most significant mechanisms in PD development include the accumulation of misfolded protein aggregates, failure of protein clearance pathways, mitochondrial damage, oxidative stress, excitatory toxicity, neuroinflammation, and gene mutations.

1) PD Mechanism of Action (MoA) Studies

2) ADME & DMPK

Fig.2 Mechanism of neuroinflammation in PD. (Maiti, et al., 2017)

Creative Biolabs has the flexibility to meet the unique needs of neuroscience research project clients. Put simply, we provide you with one-stop solutions for AD research and drug development needs. If you are interested in our AD related services, please feel free to contact us.

Reference

1. Maiti, P.; et al. Current understanding of the molecular mechanisms in Parkinson's disease: Targets for potential treatments.