The French firm’s stagnant neuroscience franchise will be revamped through a new, strategic focus on RNA-based precision medicines for neurodegenerative diseases including both small- and large-molecule drugs, the company tells Scrip.

Private Company Edition: Westlake Village BioPartners-founded Neuron23 will take the LRRK2 inhibitor NEU-723 for Parkinson’s disease into human testing before the end of 2022. Also, Celsius raised $83m in fresh VC cash and ITM added another €33m to its recent €25m equity financing.

I-Mab sets commercial plans with Sinopharm for felzartamab in multiple myeloma. Legochem and Antengene team up on antibody-drug conjugates, Luoxin licenses respiratory drug from Marinomed.

Novel therapeutic strategies for Parkinson’s disease have brought a renewed sense of optimism to those researching this neurodegenerative disorder. Numerous treatment avenues are being explored, including small molecules, gene therapy, cell therapy and medical devices to stimulate nerves deep in the brain. Digital also gets a look-in, being useful for analyzing gait and other symptoms, and addressing both mental and physical issues.