BioArctic AB (publ) announced that the company is expanding its alpha-synuclein project portfolio. The new project, PD-BT2238, combines a selective alpha-synuclein oligomer targeting antibody with BioArctic's proprietary Brain Transporter technology, to increase exposure of the antibody in the brain, with the aim of increasing efficacy of a potential treatment in Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects the nervous system.

The first symptoms could be barely noticeable tremors of a hand or a leg. As the disease progresses, people may develop difficulties walking and talking, experience mental and behavioral changes such as sleep problems, depression, memory difficulties and fatigue. Today, several symptomatic treatments are available, but no disease modifying alternatives exists.

BioArctic's aim is to develop an antibody treatment targeting soluble aggregated forms of alpha-synuclein, a protein that is genetically and neuropathologically linked to Parkinson's disease and believed to be an important initiating factor in the disease development. The PD-BT2238 project is a second-generation alpha-synuclein antibody, combining an oligomer-selective alpha-synuclein antibody with BioArctic's Brain Transporter technology, designed to improve brain exposure. BioArctic's alpha-synuclein frontrunner BAN0805 is currently in preparation for phase 2, while potential partnerships are being explored.

Phase 1 data showed that BAN0805 was well tolerated, supporting continuation into phase 2 with once-monthly dosing.