About the project

The TreatER project brings together public and private sector partners from five European countries for the development of a better treatment for Parkinson’s disease. The main focus of the TreatER project is to conduct a first-in-human clinical study with intracerebrally administered CDNF protein in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) using a neurosurgically implanted Drug Delivery System (DDS).

The TreatER project has two independent goals, each of which can individually have a significant impact in addressing unmet clinical needs in chronic diseases, and in advancing innovative European technologies:

1. Proof-of-concept of CDNF protein therapy for disease modification in PD. The patented European innovation CDNF has further potential in other chronic and debilitating indications.
2. Clinical validation of the DDS, an already clinically tested approach for accurately targeted intracerebral drug infusions in PD. The patented European innovation DDS also has significant potential in other indications needing intracerebral infusions.

The clinical study builds on extensive preclinical research and related data on CDNF, including completed acute and chronic toxicology studies in non-human primates supporting an excellent safety profile. Further, the clinical study builds on existing clinical experience in DDS and related neurosurgery.

The TreatER project will be executed during 2017-20. The project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 732386. The project was funded under H2020-EU.3.1.3. – Treating and managing disease (SC1-PM-09-2016 – New therapies for chronic diseases). The official title of the Horizon2020 funded project is “Clinical study in Parkinson’s disease with two unique goals: 1) Proof-of-concept of CDNF protein for disease modification; 2) Validation of clinically tested device for intracerebral drug delivery” (link to Horizon 2020 project database).

About CDNF