San Diego-based Hillhurst Biopharmaceuticals has secured $6.3 million in grant funding to advance its Phase 2a clinical study for a novel Parkinson's disease treatment. The funding includes $2 million from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF) and $4.3 million from the Farmer Family Foundation in conjunction with Massachusetts General Hospital.
The upcoming clinical trial, scheduled to begin in early 2025, will evaluate the company's innovative liquid drug therapy in 36 participants with Parkinson's disease. The study will assess safety, pharmacokinetics, and biomarkers associated with a 14-day dosing regimen of the therapeutic, which aims to protect against disease progression via cytoprotective pathways.
Novel Liquid Drug Technology
Hillhurst Bio's approach is based on its proprietary GLASS™ platform, which enables the development of novel drug products using therapeutic gases that have traditionally been limited by inhaled delivery methods. The company has transformed these gases into unique liquid investigational drug candidates, potentially offering new treatment options for patients with neurodegenerative conditions.
"This initiative builds on Hillhurst Bio's commitment to developing innovative liquid drug products for unmet medical needs," the company stated. The technology represents a significant advancement in drug delivery systems, particularly for therapeutic gases that have shown promise but faced delivery challenges.
Addressing Unmet Needs in Parkinson's Treatment
Parkinson's disease remains a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with limited treatment options that can slow or halt disease progression. Current therapies primarily focus on symptom management rather than addressing underlying disease mechanisms.
Hillhurst's novel approach targets cytoprotective pathways, potentially offering neuroprotection that could modify the disease course—a significant unmet need in Parkinson's treatment. The upcoming Phase 2a trial will provide crucial data on whether this approach can demonstrate measurable effects on relevant biomarkers.
Collaborative Funding Approach
The grant funding represents a collaborative effort between major research foundations and medical institutions. The Michael J. Fox Foundation, established by actor Michael J. Fox in 2000, is the world's largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson's research, having committed more than $1.5 billion to accelerate the development of improved therapies.
The Farmer Family Foundation, a private foundation based in Cincinnati, Ohio, focuses on programs with transformative potential. Established in 1988, the foundation typically prioritizes local investments but selectively supports healthcare research beyond its regional focus.
Massachusetts General Hospital's involvement adds significant clinical expertise to the project, as one of the nation's leading research hospitals with extensive experience in neurodegenerative disease research.
Clinical Trial Details
The Phase 2a study will evaluate multiple aspects of Hillhurst's therapeutic:
- Safety and tolerability in Parkinson's disease patients
- Pharmacokinetic profile to understand how the body processes the drug
- Effects on biomarkers relevant to Parkinson's disease pathology
- Optimal dosing regimens over a 14-day treatment period
The 36-participant trial represents an important step in determining whether the therapy shows sufficient promise to advance to larger, more definitive clinical studies.
Expanding Pipeline
Beyond Parkinson's disease, Hillhurst Bio is developing similar liquid drug candidates for other conditions with significant unmet needs, including sickle cell disease and acute pain. This diversified pipeline leverages the company's GLASS™ platform technology across multiple therapeutic areas.
The grant funding specifically for Parkinson's research demonstrates confidence in the company's innovative approach from respected research organizations and provides crucial financial support to advance the clinical development program without diluting equity investment.
As Hillhurst Bio prepares to launch its Phase 2a trial in early 2025, the neurology and pharmaceutical communities will be watching closely to see if this novel approach can demonstrate meaningful effects that could eventually translate into a disease-modifying therapy for Parkinson's disease patients.
