Arvinas, Inc., a New Haven biotechnology company, has joined two research programs supported by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research to advance its experimental drug ARV-102, which is being developed as a potential new treatment for Parkinson's disease and related brain conditions.
Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement, balance, and coordination, and for which there is currently no cure. A gene called LRRK2, or leucine-rich repeat kinase 2, has been identified as one of the most significant genetic contributors to the disease. ARV-102 is designed to target and eliminate the LRRK2 protein, which when dysregulated is believed to contribute to the nerve cell damage that drives Parkinson's and a related condition called progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).
What makes ARV-102 scientifically distinctive is its mechanism. Rather than simply blocking a harmful protein the way most drugs do, ARV-102 uses a technology called a PROTAC, short for PROteolysis TArgeting Chimera, that works by recruiting the body's own natural waste-disposal system to identify and break down the disease-causing protein entirely. Arvinas pioneered this approach, known broadly as targeted protein degradation, and believes it offers advantages over traditional drug strategies for hard-to-treat diseases. ARV-102 is also designed to be taken orally and to penetrate the brain, two properties that are critical for any drug targeting neurological conditions.
Arvinas has joined two Michael J. Fox Foundation programs to support this work. The first, called LITE, or the LRRK2 Investigative Therapeutics Exchange, is a large-scale global initiative that brings together academic researchers and biotechnology companies to share data, tools, and expertise specifically around LRRK2-targeted therapies. The second, PPMI, or the Parkinson's Precision Medicine Initiative, is a global study that has built an open-access library of biological samples and patient data to help researchers better understand how Parkinson's disease develops and progresses. Together, these programs will help Arvinas gather the scientific evidence needed to advance ARV-102 into later stages of clinical testing.
"Joining these important Michael J. Fox Foundation-supported initiatives further reinforces our commitment to advancing ARV-102 through rigorous translational science, collaborative data generation, and deep engagement with the broader Parkinson's disease research community," said Angela Cacace, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Arvinas. "We believe targeted protein degradation offers a highly differentiated approach to addressing neurodegenerative diseases, and participation in LITE and PPMI will help deepen our understanding of LRRK2 biology as we progress our ARV-102 program. We are honored to join these programs and look forward to contributing to research and the depth of target and pathway engagement that we hope will one day benefit patients in need."
"At The Michael J. Fox Foundation, we remain focused on accelerating the development of better treatments for people living with Parkinson's disease through collaborative, biology-driven research," said Shalini Padmanabhan, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Head of Translational Research at The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. "Programs like LITE and PPMI are helping build the translational and biomarker infrastructure needed to better understand LRRK2 biology, support more precise therapeutic development, and advance the field toward more personalized approaches to Parkinson's disease."
Arvinas is among a small number of companies working to bring targeted protein degradation from laboratory science into clinical medicine. Its participation in the two Michael J. Fox Foundation programs places ARV-102 within a well-resourced, collaborative research network specifically designed to speed the development of new Parkinson's treatments.
