Neuroprotective compounds open new avenues for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases
A multidisciplinary team from the University of Barcelona, led by Dr Carmen Escolano, Full Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences at UB, has developed a new family of compounds with neuroprotective activity for the treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
This technology, available for licensing through the Bosch i Gimpera Foundation, the University of Barcelona’s knowledge transfer office, represents a novel therapeutic approach to address conditions that currently lack treatments capable of halting disease progression.
Neurodegenerative diseases are having an increasing impact on society, driven both by population ageing and their high economic and social cost. Current therapeutic options are limited and mainly focus on symptom relief, highlighting the urgent need to develop new strategies capable of protecting neurons and modifying the course of the disease.
The technology is based on the development and characterisation of a new series of 35 chemical compounds. Through a selection process based on their pharmacokinetic properties —such as absorption, distribution and stability—, two compounds with particularly promising profiles have been identified. These compounds show a strong ability to cross the blood–brain barrier and exhibit favourable safety parameters. In murine models of Alzheimer’s disease, they have demonstrated significant cognitive improvements and recovery of impaired functions.
Key advantages include the structural novelty of the compounds, their cost-effective synthesis, and a new mechanism of action that could go beyond symptomatic treatments. The technology is currently at the preclinical stage and is protected by European patent application EP25382806.5. It represents a strong opportunity for licensing agreements and collaboration with industry.
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