Bayer AG and Asklepios BioPharmaceutical Inc. Initiate Phase II Clinical Trial for Investigational Gene Therapy for Parkinson's Disease

Asklepios BioPharmaceutical's Clinical Pipeline Focuses on Patient Input

Bayer AG and Asklepios BioPharmaceutical Inc. (AskBio) have initiated a Phase II clinical trial for AB-1005, an investigational gene therapy for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. The trial, known as GenePHIT, will evaluate the safety and efficacy of AB-1005 in patients with moderate-to-severe Parkinson's disease.

Phase II Trial of AB-1005 Aims to Advance Clinical Pipeline

AB-1005 is a gene therapy that delivers a functional copy of the GDNF gene to the brain. GDNF is a protein that is essential for the survival and function of dopamine neurons, which are lost in Parkinson's disease. The Phase II GenePHIT trial will enroll 150 patients at approximately 30 sites worldwide. The trial will evaluate the safety and efficacy of AB-1005 over a period of two years.

The initiation of the Phase II trial is a significant milestone for AskBio and Bayer. It represents the culmination of years of research and development, and it brings AskBio one step closer to bringing a potential new treatment for Parkinson's disease to market.

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