(Alliance News) - 4D Pharma PLC on Monday announced it has partnered with charity Parkinson's UK to help improve treatments and understanding of the disease.
The Leeds-based live biotherapeutic products developer 4D Pharma will form a Patient Advisory Board as part of the partnership, comprised of Parkinson's sufferers. The board will provide "patient-centric perspectives to 4D pharma" as it continues to work on treatments for neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson's, it said on Monday.
The board also will raise awareness of the issues people with Parkinson's face with current treatment options.
Plans for a first human clinical trial in Parkinson's disease patients of 4D Pharma's oral single strain live biotherapeutics continue to progress, the firm said.
"4D Pharma selected to work with Parkinson's UK to represent the patient community as the largest charitable funder of Parkinson's research in Europe," said Alex Stevenson, Chief Scientific Officer at 4D pharma.
"The contributions of our Patient Advisory Board, with the support of Parkinson's UK, will be vital to 4D pharma's efforts to not only develop novel therapeutics for this devastating condition, but also promote a dialogue and partnership with the Parkinson's patient community.
"Parkinson's is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world. By working with Parkinson's UK and our Patient Advisory Board, 4D pharma is better able to engage Parkinson's patients with our clinical programs as we work to bring the first live biotherapeutic for the treatment of this condition into the clinic."
Shares in 4D Pharma were up 4.9% at 122.49 pence each in London on Monday.
By Will Paige; willpaige@alliancenews.com
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