Progenra Inc. Receives Therapeutic Pipeline Award from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and Drug Development

MALVERN, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Progenra, Inc. announces the receipt of a 2018 Therapeutic Pipeline Award from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF). The award supports Progenra’s program of small molecule drug discovery and development for Parkinson’s disease, which, after Alzheimer’s disease, is the second most common form of neurodegeneration. The MJFF’s Target Advancement and Therapeutic Pipeline Programs are aimed at uncovering the biology underpinning Parkinson’s disease and, exemplified by Progenra’s leadership in the ubiquitin proteasome system, evaluating new treatments, respectively.

Dr. Tauseef Butt, CEO of Progenra, stated: “Progenra is pleased to have been selected by The Michael J. Fox Foundation to contribute to bringing Parkinson’s and other major neurodegenerative diseases under control by introducing new therapeutic agents. Since its inception, Progenra has been dedicated to developing novel therapeutics by targeting enzymes from the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS). The UPS plays a fundamental role in neuronal health, and dysfunction in this pathway is responsible for neuronal diseases. We believe that augmenting the activity of a native enzyme known to be beneficial in combating neurodegeneration will provide both mechanistic information and the potential for breakthrough treatment, and we look forward to working with the many excellent researchers in the foundation’s consortium.”

About Progenra Inc.

Progenra (www.progenra.com) aims to discover and develop novel medicines exploiting the ubiquitin proteasome system. Progenra has achieved leadership in ubiquitin proteasome system by utilizing the company’s UbiPro™ Drug Discovery Platform. Progenra has identified novel therapeutically relevant molecules for Parkinson’s disease by targeting ubiquitin proteasome system.

About The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research

As the world’s largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to accelerating a cure for Parkinson’s disease and improved therapies for those living with the condition today. The Foundation pursues its goals through an aggressively funded, highly targeted research program coupled with active global engagement of scientists, Parkinson’s patients, business leaders, clinical trial participants, donors and volunteers. In addition to funding more than $800 million in research to date, the Foundation has fundamentally altered the trajectory of progress toward a cure. Operating at the hub of worldwide Parkinson’s research, the Foundation forges groundbreaking collaborations with industry leaders, academic scientists and government research funders; increases the flow of participants into Parkinson’s disease clinical trials with its online tool, Fox Trial Finder; promotes Parkinson’s awareness through high-profile advocacy, events and outreach; and coordinates the grassroots involvement of thousands of Team Fox members around the world. For more information, visit us at michaeljfox.org, on Facebook or Twitter.

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