Grünenthal, Lead Discovery Center and Max Planck Society enter into a research collaboration on Charcot-Marie-Tooth 1A (CMT1A)

Aachen, Dortmund and Göttingen (ots) - Grünenthal, Lead Discovery
Center GmbH (LDC), Max-Planck Innovation and Max Planck Institute of
Experimental Medicine (MPI-EM) have entered into a research
collaboration to develop novel therapies for patients suffering from
Charcot-Marie-Tooth 1A (CMT1A), an inherited neurological disorder.

The collaboration combines the disease proficiency of MPI-EM, the
drug discovery expertise of LDC and Grünenthal's competency in drug
discovery and development as well as pain management. The project's
scientific foundation was laid at MPI-EM by Michael Sereda,
Klaus-Armin Nave and Moritz Rossner.

Within the framework of this research collaboration, LDC and
MPI-EM intend to establish a novel screening platform to identify
small molecule modulators to generate innovative drug candidates.
These research efforts are equally funded by Grünenthal and Max
Planck Society. Grünenthal will assume responsibility for the
development of any drug candidates derived from this research
collaboration from the identification of preclinical candidate
onwards.

"It's our aspiration to provide patients with disease modifying
treatments. We therefore team up with academia and foster research
collaborations leveraging basic research," said Gabriel Baertschi,
CEO Grünenthal. "There is no curative treatment available for
patients affected by CMT1A. This neurological disorder places a
burden on patients and we're looking forward to developing potential
treatment options with our partners."

"We are enthusiastic to collaborate with Grünenthal and our MPI-EM
colleagues on this early-stage drug discovery project", said Bert
Klebl, Managing Director and CSO at LDC. "As a leading specialist in
pain research and pain management, Grünenthal's synergistic
capabilities will help advance this joint project to hopefully make a
difference in the lives of CMT1A patients".

About Charcot-Marie-Tooth

Charcot-Marie-Tooth is one of the most common inherited
neurological disorders, affecting approximately 1 in 2.500 people. It
affects both motor and sensory nerves and symptoms include weakness
of the foot and lower leg muscles, foot deformities, pain, and
numbness.

CMT1A is the most common form of CMT and results from a
duplication of the gene on chromosome 17 that carries the
instructions for producing the peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22).
PMP22 is a critical component of the myelin sheath that isolates
human peripheral nerve. Overexpression of this gene causes the
structure and function of the myelin sheath to be abnormal, resulting
in a slower conduction of nerve impulses. Currently, there is no
curative therapeutic treatment available.

About Grünenthal

Grünenthal is an entrepreneurial, science-based pharmaceutical
company specialized in pain, gout and inflammation. Our ambition is
to deliver four to five new products to patients in diseases with
high unmet medical need by 2022 and become a EUR2 bn company. We are
a fully integrated research & development company with a long track
record of bringing innovative pain treatments and state-of-the-art
technologies to patients. By sustainably investing in our R&D above
the industrial average, we are strongly committed to innovation.

Grünenthal is an independent, family-owned company headquartered
in Aachen, Germany. We are present in 32 countries with affiliates in
Europe, Latin America and the US. Our products are sold in more than
100 countries and approx. 5,200 employees are working for Grünenthal
worldwide. In 2017, Grünenthal achieved revenues of approx. EUR1.3
bn.

More information: www.grunenthal.com

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About the Lead Discovery Center

The Lead Discovery Center was established in 2008 by Max-Planck
Society as a novel approach to capitalize on the potential of
excellent basic research for the discovery of new therapies for
diseases with high medical need. The Lead Discovery Center takes on
promising early-stage projects from academia and transforms them into
innovative pharmaceutical leads that reach initial proof-of-concept
in animals. In close collaboration with high-profile partners from
academia and industry, the Lead Discovery Center is building a strong
and growing portfolio of small molecule leads with exceptional
medical and commercial potential.

The Lead Discovery Center sustains a preferred partnership with
the Max Planck Society and has formed alliances with AstraZeneca,
Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck KGaA, Daiichi Sankyo, Qurient,
Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Roche and Sotio as well as leading
translational drug discovery centers around the globe. Further
information at: www.lead-discovery.de

For further information, please contact:
Stepan Kracala, Head Global Communications
Tel.: +49 241 569-1335, Stepan.Kracala@grunenthal.com
Grünenthal GmbH, 52099 Aachen

Public Relations LDC
Tel.: +49 231 9742 7000
pr@lead-discovery.de
Lead Discovery Center GmbH, 44227 Dortmund

Original-Content von: Grünenthal Group, übermittelt durch news aktuell