Cerevance announced positive results from its Phase 2 ASCEND trial of solengepras, an investigational non-dopaminergic GPR6 inhibitor, showing evidence of potential benefit in functional and non-motor symptoms in patients with early-stage Parkinson's disease. The clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company will present these findings at the 2025 MDS International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders in Honolulu from October 5-9.
Phase 2 Trial Demonstrates Safety and Efficacy Signals
The 12-week ASCEND study evaluated solengepras in patients with early-stage Parkinson's disease, focusing on functional and non-motor measures alongside safety observations. The trial results showed that solengepras was generally well-tolerated with a low rate of dopaminergic side effects observed during the study period.
"Sharing Phase 2 data on solengepras at the MDS Congress reflects our dedication to advancing innovative approaches in Parkinson's disease," said Craig Thompson, CEO of Cerevance. "We are deeply appreciative of the investigators and patients who contributed to the ASCEND study, and we welcome the opportunity to engage with the global movement disorders community at this important meeting."
Novel Mechanism of Action Targets GPR6 Receptor
Solengepras represents a potentially groundbreaking approach to Parkinson's disease treatment through its unique mechanism of action. Unlike dopaminergic therapies, which primarily act by replenishing, enhancing, or mimicking dopamine, solengepras is designed to selectively address the indirect pathway by modulating the GPR6 receptor.
By inhibiting GPR6, solengepras aims to restore both motor and non-motor function without directly affecting dopamine levels or signaling. This approach is designed to improve the relative balance between the direct and indirect pathways while potentially reducing the risk of common side effects associated with dopaminergic therapies, such as dyskinesias and motor fluctuations.
Advancing to Phase 3 Development
Solengepras is currently being evaluated as a once-daily, oral treatment for use as an adjunctive therapy to levodopa and other anti-Parkinsonian medications in the Phase 3 ARISE trial. The compound has the potential to be a first-in-class, oral non-dopaminergic therapy for both motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Conference Presentation Details
The detailed findings will be presented by Stuart Isaacson, MD, Director and Founder of the Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center of Boca Raton, on Monday, October 6, 2025, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. HST at Room 312 of the Hawaii Convention Center. The presentation, titled "Solengepras: An Investigational Therapy with Potential Benefits on Functional and Non-Motor Measures in Parkinson's Disease (PD)" (Abstract #942), will share comprehensive analyses from the Phase 2 trial.
Company's Broader Pipeline
Cerevance focuses on advancing cell type-specific therapies for neurodegenerative and central nervous system-controlled metabolic disorders using its proprietary Nuclear Enriched Transcript Sort sequencing (NETSseq) platform. This technology allows the company to identify targets expressed at very low levels, present in rare cell types, or that change over time as diseases progress.
Beyond solengepras, the company's pipeline includes CVN766, a highly selective oral antagonist of the orexin 1 receptor for potential treatment of binge eating disorder and schizophrenia, and CVN293, a selective oral inhibitor targeting potassium two pore domain channel subfamily K member 13 (KCNK13) for neurodegenerative disorders and obesity.
