On January 11, Pacific Time, Stanford University and Simcere Pharmaceutical Group Limited (Simcere; 2096.HK) entered into a collaborative research agreement to jointly conduct exploratory research in the field of central nervous system to develop innovative treatments for Parkinson's disease patients.
Pursuant to the agreement, Simcere will fund this research to discover first-in-class disease-modifying molecules to treat Parkinson’s disease, and license-in with 100% global interest in the FIC product if successful.
Parkinson's disease is a common neurodegenerative disease. While there are several therapies available that can alleviate the symptoms, none have been able to slow the progression of or cure Parkinson's disease. Developing more disease-modifying treatments for this disease has always been one of the key goals of the medical field. This collaboration demonstrates the commitment and common mission of joint research team members from both countries to tackle this medical challenge.
In this collaboration, Prof. Gray will lead the team to utilize his expertise in chemistry and systems biology to discover first-in-class, and potentially disease-modifying molecules for the treatment of Parkinson's patients.
Prof. Nathanael Gray said,“The discovery of new therapies for Parkinson’s Disease represents a critical need in neurodegenerative medicine. The molecule we have collaborated on is expected to inhibit a key player in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. We’re excited to collaborate with industry partners such as Simcere, with great innovative spirit and social responsibility, to strengthen the translation of our research and further advance potentially game-changing technology to patients.”
Mr. Zhou Gaobo, Chief Investment Officer of Simcere, said, "Research collaboration to serve patient needs requires the power to transcend borders, and we look forward to working hand-in-hand with the Stanford team to overcome the difficulties and providing more effective treatments to Parkinson's disease patients around the world. This collaboration reflects our long-term commitment to driving drug innovation through partnerships and to our corporate mission of providing today's patients with medicines of the future."
Karin Immergluck, Associate Vice Provost of Stanford, and Chaitan Khosla, Director of Stanford Innovative Medicine Accelerator participated in the on-site signing ceremony.
About Stanford
Stanford University is a private research university in US, founded in 1885, and is one of the most prestigious universities in the world. As of April 2021, 58 Nobel laureates, 29 Turing Award laureates, and 8 Fields Medalists have been affiliated with Stanford’s alumni, faculty, or staff.
In addition, Stanford University is known for its innovation and entrepreneurial spirit and is one of the most attractive universities for venture capital.