$1 million in research funding to support PD GENEration, a first-of-its-kind national study offering free genetic testing and counseling for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD)
- $1 million in research funding to support PD GENEration, a first-of-its-kind national study offering free genetic testing and counseling for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD)
- 10-15% of people with Parkinson’s disease have a genetic form of the disease
- Genetic testing provides better identification for clinical trial eligibility and may eventually enable personalized PD therapies
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and NEW YORK and MIAMI, Oct. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sanofi and the Parkinson’s Foundation today announced a new research collaboration to advance the availability of genetic testing and counseling for people living with Parkinson’s disease in the U.S. Over the next two years, Sanofi will provide $1 million in research funding to support the PD GENEration: Mapping the Future of Parkinson’s Disease initiative.
“With an estimated 10-15% of people with Parkinson’s disease having a genetic form of the disease, people may have risk genes even when they have no apparent family history. Genetic testing is critical for advancing understanding of the biology behind Parkinson’s disease and increasing patient access to clinical trials targeting specific genetic mutations, with the hope of slowing disease progression,” said Erik Wallstroem, Therapeutic Area Head, Neurology Development. “The PD GENEration study is an exciting platform to facilitate this, and it’s already demonstrating early success.”
Genetic testing and counseling through PD GENEration provides people with Parkinson’s disease with detailed knowledge of their genetic status relative to key Parkinson’s-related genes, ultimately empowering them to know more about their own disease. GBA, LRRK2 and SNCA are examples of genes associated with Parkinson’s disease that are included in the PD GENEration test. Genetic testing can help people with Parkinson’s disease and their physicians identify whether they may qualify for enrollment in certain clinical trials based on their test results. Findings from PD GENEration also will contribute to the biological understanding of the disease, helping researchers assess the impact of each mutation and which ones may cause the disease.
“This collaboration with Sanofi will help us continue to improve Parkinson’s care by helping PD GENEration participants better manage their disease while supporting scientists to better understand Parkinson’s disease,” said John L. Lehr, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Parkinson’s Foundation. “We are thrilled to work with Sanofi to empower the Parkinson’s disease community with more information about their diagnosis and potential treatment options.”
The Parkinson’s Foundation recently announced the results of the PD GENEration pilot study, which identified individuals with extremely rare mutations linked to PD and a higher number of people with a genetic form of PD than previously reported. The Parkinson’s Foundation intends to enroll 15,000 people in the study, building on the success of the pilot.
To learn more about PD GENEration, visit Parkinson.org/PDGENEration or call the Foundation’s free Helpline at 1-800-4PD-INFO.
About Parkinson’s Disease
Affecting nearly one million Americans and 10 million worldwide, Parkinson’s disease is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s and is the 14th-leading cause of death in the United States. It is associated with a progressive loss of motor control (e.g., shaking or tremor at rest and lack of facial expression), as well as non-motor symptoms (e.g., depression and anxiety). There is no cure for Parkinson’s and 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the United States alone.
About the Parkinson’s Foundation
The Parkinson’s Foundation makes life better for people with Parkinson’s disease by improving care and advancing research toward a cure. In everything we do, we build on the energy, experience and passion of our global Parkinson’s community. For more information, visit www.parkinson.org or call (800) 4PD-INFO (473-4636).
About Sanofi
Sanofi is dedicated to supporting people through their health challenges. We are a global biopharmaceutical company focused on human health. We prevent illness with vaccines, provide innovative treatments to fight pain and ease suffering. We stand by the few who suffer from rare diseases and the millions with long-term chronic conditions.
With more than 100,000 people in 100 countries, Sanofi is transforming scientific innovation into healthcare solutions around the globe.
Sanofi, Empowering Life
| Media Relations Contact | Sanofi Investor Relations Contacts Paris |
| Sally Bain | Eva Schaefer-Jansen |
| Tel.: +1 781 264 1091 | Arnaud Delepine |
| Yvonne Naughton | |
| Sanofi Investor Relations Contacts North America | |
| Felix Lauscher | |
| Fara Berkowitz | |
| Suzanne Greco | |
| IR main line: | |
| Tel.: +33 (0)1 53 77 45 45 | |
Sanofi Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements include projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions and expectations with respect to future financial results, events, operations, services, product development and potential, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words “expects”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates”, “plans” and similar expressions. Although Sanofi’s management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of Sanofi, that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, future clinical data and analysis, including post marketing, decisions by regulatory authorities, such as the FDA or the EMA, regarding whether and when to approve any drug, device or biological application that may be filed for any such product candidates as well as their decisions regarding labelling and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of such product candidates, the fact that product candidates if approved may not be commercially successful, the future approval and commercial success of therapeutic alternatives, Sanofi’s ability to benefit from external growth opportunities, to complete related transactions and/or obtain regulatory clearances, risks associated with intellectual property and any related pending or future litigation and the ultimate outcome of such litigation, trends in exchange rates and prevailing interest rates, volatile economic and market conditions, cost containment initiatives and subsequent changes thereto, and the impact that COVID-19 will have on us, our customers, suppliers, vendors, and other business partners, and the financial condition of any one of them, as well as on our employees and on the global economy as a whole. Any material effect of COVID-19 on any of the foregoing could also adversely impact us. This situation is changing rapidly and additional impacts may arise of which we are not currently aware and may exacerbate other previously identified risks. The risks and uncertainties also include the uncertainties discussed or identified in the public filings with the SEC and the AMF made by Sanofi, including those listed under “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in Sanofi’s annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2019. Other than as required by applicable law, Sanofi does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements.
Source: Sanofi (EURONEXT: SAN) (NASDAQ: SNY)
View original content:SOURCE Sanofi
Company Codes: NASDAQ-NMS:SNY, EuronextParis:SAN
