CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Q-State Biosciences, a technology-derived medicines company, today announced that it has achieved the primary program completion milestone in its research collaboration with Chamishi Therapeutics. In joint collaboration with The Silverstein Foundation for Parkinson’s with GBA, Q-State successfully designed a series of optimized preclinical antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) candidates as potential treatments for a number of neurological disorders including Glucosylceramidase Beta Acid (GBA)-Parkinson’s disease. Completion of this milestone entitles Q-State to receive a pre-specified grant of equity in Chamishi.
The preclinical antisense oligonucleotide candidates were generated for an undisclosed neuroinflammation target by harnessing Q-State’s proprietary suite of technologies. Q-State CEO Paul Medeiros commented, “This collaboration demonstrates the successful application of Q-State’s advanced technology-derived discovery capabilities in a challenging disease domain within the CNS. We are hopeful that these efforts may provide a favorable foundation for advancing new therapeutics for patients with GBA-Parkinson’s and related neurodegenerative disorders.”
“We are very pleased with the progress achieved during our collaboration with Q-State and look forward to advancing this program towards studies in humans,” said Jim Sullivan, CEO of Chamishi. “Selectively targeting components of the immune system within the CNS represents an important therapeutic approach to addressing the needs of patients with devastating neurological diseases.”
About GBA-Parkinson’s Disease
The GBA gene (Glucosylceramidase Beta Acid) encodes the protein glucocerebrosidase, or GCase, which functions to allow brain cells to clear debris via a cellular component known as the lysosome. Those who have mutations in the GBA gene are at higher risk for Parkinson’s disease due to a reduction in GCase activity that prevents effective removal of the debris. It is hypothesized that this excess debris aggregates, causing clumps of alpha synuclein to form, which is toxic to brain cells. The percentage of patients that have Parkinson’s with GBA is believed to be roughly 7-10% of the overall Parkinson’s population, however therapeutic breakthroughs identified in this area have the potential to benefit all PD patients, as well as others suffering from neurodegenerative diseases.
About Q-State Biosciences
Q-State Biosciences is a technology-derived medicines company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. We integrate advanced human neuronal models, proprietary determinative measurement engineering and powerful AI/machine learning to discover and develop novel therapeutics for epilepsy, pain and other disorders of the CNS. For more information, please visit www.qstatebio.com.
About Chamishi Therapeutics
Chamishi Therapeutics is a drug discovery and development company focused on precision therapies for neurodegenerative diseases and other related diseases. Chamishi was launched in 2019 by The Silverstein Foundation for Parkinson’s with GBA and by Q-State Biosciences.
About The Silverstein Foundation for Parkinson’s with GBA
The Silverstein Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on investing in cutting-edge therapeutic approaches for the treatment and prevention of Parkinson’s disease in glucocerebrosidase (GBA) mutation carriers. The Foundation collaborates with clinicians, scientists, and biotechnology companies to accelerate research and clinical trials in an effort to rapidly bring new disease-modifying therapeutic options to patients. Under the leadership of a world-class team with strong domain expertise across neurodegenerative diseases, drug formulation chemistry, translational research, and drug development and commercialization, the Foundation has funded over 30 projects across seven different therapeutic approaches since its inception in 2017. The Foundation applies a unique flexible funding model including both new company formation and traditional research grants to deliver in real-time on its mission of rapidly developing novel disease-modifying treatments for Parkinson’s disease. For more information, please visit www.silversteinfoundation.org.
