Centogene is extending its Rostock International Parkinson’s Disease (ROPAD) Study to recruit and genetically test additional patients over the next few years.
The Rostock International Parkinson’s Disease Study (ROPAD) is the world’s largest observational epidemiological study focusing on the role of genetics in Parkinson’s.
It aims to characterise the genetics of the condition to establish a better understanding of disease progression, diagnosis, and treatment for patients.
Based on initial findings of the more than 12,500 participants already recruited and genetically tested, the study will now focus its efforts on 48 sites across 10 countries, consisting of Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Israel, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the UK and US.
In 2018, Centogene entered a strategic collaboration with Denali Therapeutics for the targeted global identification of Parkinson’s patients with genetic variations in the LRRK2 gene. The LRRK2 gene is one of the most common mutated genes in familial Parkinson’s.
Patients enrolled in ROPAD and identified with LRRK2 genetic variations may be eligible for participation in ongoing interventional clinical studies.
Denali, in collaboration with Biogen Inc., is currently evaluating the efficacy and safety of BIIB122 (DNL151), a small molecule, LRRK2 inhibitor, that aims to slow the progression of PD in individuals with pathogenic genetic variations in LRRK2 in the LIGHTHOUSE study.
Kim Stratton, chief executive officer at Centogene, commented: “Parkinson’s disease is a devastating neurodegenerative disease – affecting over 10 million people worldwide from all walks of life. There is an urgent medical need to unveil multidimensional data.
“At Centogene, we find it truly essential to establish a more inclusive and comprehensive approach from diagnostics to drug discovery, development, and commercialisation. By extending this study alongside Denali, we are generating multi-ethnic insights into the genetic causes – accelerating potentially disease-modifying therapeutics for PD patients around the world.”
Carole Ho, MD, chief medical officer and head of development at Denali added: “Denali is the first company to conduct clinical trials with oral, small molecule LRRK2 inhibitors for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. This partnership with Centogene has played a key role in our global efforts to identify PD patients with genetic variations in the LRRK2 gene.
“We are committed to working together in collaboration with Biogen to accelerate the development of a therapy to potentially slow or stop the progression of PD, a disease affecting several million patients worldwide.”