Diamyd was wise to license GAD-technology for neurological therapeutics says UCLA professor

Diamyd Medical is the exclusive therapeutic licensee to UCLA’s patents covering the GAD65 gene and is currently conducting three clinical studies with its diabetes vaccine Diamyd. As GAD regulates the balance between the excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmittors Glutamate and GABA, it may also play major roles in several neurological diseases including Parkinson´s disease. Neurologix Research Inc is announcing near completion of a phase I safety trial in 12 Parkinson patients using GAD-gene therapy.

"It is exciting to see UCLA's GAD technology applied therapeutically to CNS disease by companies such as Neurologix. Diamyd Medical did the right thing when they signed up for the exclusive rights for this technology" says professor Allan Tobin, Managing Director of MRSSI and Senior Scientific Advisor to the High Q Foundation, New York; former Director of the UCLA Brain Institute; and member of Diamyd Medical's Scientific Advisory Board. At a recent neurology meeting (AANS) in New Orleans, Neurologix’s scientific co-founder, Dr Kaplitt, informed that Neurologix’ phase I clinical trial using GAD-gene therapy in 12 patients with advanced disease nears completion. To date 11 patients have been treated and there has been no evidence of any treatment-related adverse effects. The Neurologix Phase I trial, which is the first FDA-approved clinical trial to test gene therapy to treat Parkinson's disease. The 12 patients participating in the trial have been diagnosed with advanced Parkinson's disease and do not adequately respond to current medical therapies. “Neurologix is aware of Diamyd’s exclusive rights to the GAD65 gene for therapeutic use. Should GAD gene therapy for Parkinson’s disease succeed this is good news for Diamyd Medical. Diamyd Medical is independently conducting certain preclinical studies to access safety and efficacy of GAD-therapy in the neurological field. It is also interesting to note that it was announced earlier this month that one of our shareholders, Medtronic Inc, increased its equity investment in Neurologix by $ 2million, says Anders Essen-Moller, CEO of Diamyd Medical.