1ST Biotherapeutics Joins The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s LITE Program to Advance LRRK2-Based Parkinson’s Disease Research

1ST Biotherapeutics has joined a worldwide collaboration, led by the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF), that is dedicated to advancing therapies aimed at the LRRK2 gene — a key genetic contributor to Parkinson’s disease. About the LRRK2 Investigative Therapeutics Exchange (LITE) This partnership is part of MJFF’s LRRK2 Investigative Therapeutics Exchange (LITE), an initiative launched in 2024. LITE brings together over 40 biotechnology companies, pharmaceutical developers, and academic researchers. Participants share data, resources, and expertise to speed up the development of therapies targeting LRRK2, and to identify biomarkers that can guide future clinical trials. Shalini Padmanabhan, MJFF’s senior vice president of discovery and translational research, emphasized the importance of this collaboration: "MJFF believes in the power of bringing together the expertise of industry and academia to advance LRRK2 drug development efforts." Why Target LRRK2 in Parkinson’s? Mutations in the LRRK2 gene are among the most common known genetic causes of Parkinson’s disease. This gene produces an enzyme that plays an important role in helping cells communicate and clear out waste. However, when mutations occur, the enzyme can become overactive, disrupting normal cell functions and contributing to the neurodegeneration associated with Parkinson’s. Because of this, researchers believe that therapies designed to regulate or block the effects of LRRK2 could be a promising path toward slowing or preventing the progression of the disease. 1ST Biotherapeutics’ Commitment to Parkinson’s Research By joining the LITE initiative, 1ST Biotherapeutics aims to help advance new therapies while collaborating with world-leading scientists. CEO Dr. Jamie Jae Eun Kim highlighted the company’s commitment, saying: "This partnership strengthens our commitment to rapidly advancing LRRK2-targeted therapies that could significantly impact the lives of Parkinson’s patients." The company is also developing its own potential treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. Its lead therapy, FB101, is currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial for both Parkinson’s and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Another drug, 1ST-104, is still in preclinical development and is designed to target both LRRK2 and c-Abl — another protein linked to the buildup of alpha-synuclein, which is a hallmark of Parkinson’s. A Collaborative Effort for Hope Through initiatives like LITE, the Michael J. Fox Foundation and its partners are working to create new treatment options and improve the lives of people living with Parkinson’s disease. This collaboration is a reminder of the powerful impact that shared knowledge and community-driven science can have in the search for better therapies and, ultimately, a cure.