$6M grant aids work into calcium channel blocker to protect neurons

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research has given a $6 million grant to Lario Therapeutics to support early studies on CaV2.3 calcium channel inhibitors as a potential treatment for Parkinson’s disease. Lario is working with the Oxford Parkinson’s Disease Centre, where researchers will test these inhibitors using stem cell models from Parkinson’s patients. Richard Wade-Martins from the University of Oxford will lead the testing. Lario’s Chief Scientific Officer, Tom Otis, expressed gratitude for the funding, highlighting its importance in developing a therapy to prevent neuron loss in Parkinson’s. Research suggests that blocking the CaV2.3 calcium channel could protect neurons from damage in Parkinson’s. This grant will help Lario quickly advance their program toward clinical trials, aiming to offer a new treatment for Parkinson’s patients. The Michael J. Fox Foundation is eager to see the results of this promising research.