Sanofi has entered into a collaboration with the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) to conduct a clinical trial to assess the safety and tolerability of AVE 8112, Sanofi’s phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4) inhibitor, in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

“AVE8112 has shown promising pro-cognitive activity in preclinical models that could be of interest to the under-addressed cognitive aspects of Parkinson’s disease, an area of unmet need where a new treatment could make a tangible difference in patients’ lives,” said Todd Sherer, Ph.D., chief executive officer of MJFF. “Groundbreaking collaborations with like-minded partners such as Sanofi are a hallmark of the Fox Foundation’s approach and help us speed scientific advances with potential to improve the treatment of Parkinson’s for patients today and in the future.”

Under the terms of the collaboration, MJFF will sponsor a Phase I b clinical trial to assess the safety and tolerability of AVE8112 in patients with Parkinson’s disease. All data and results generated by the clinical trial will be owned by MJFF and shared with Sanofi. Further development plans will be based upon the results of the study.

“The Michael J. Fox Foundation has been a driving force in discovering and developing improved therapies for those living with Parkinson’s disease. Through this research collaboration, together we will be able to study Sanofi’s pharmaceutical compound for a possible new treatment for PD patients around the world,” said Dr. Elias Zerhouni, President, Global R&D, Sanofi. “We hope to continue to develop relationships with private foundations like the Michael J. Fox Foundation to pool our resources and maximize the potential of our drug portfolio to address unmet medical needs.”

The clinical trial will be conducted at clinical sites in the United States in Baltimore, MD, and Los Angeles, CA. Patient enrollment in the study is expected to begin later this year.