Seelos Therapeutics’ SLS-004 shows significant efficacy in Parkinson’s

Seelos Therapeutics announced in vivo data demonstrating that a single dose of SLS-004 downregulated the production of alpha-synuclein. This reduction of alpha-synuclein by SLS-004 in an established alpha-synuclein overexpressing animal model of Parkinson’s disease resulted in substantial increase and recovery of degeneration in tyrosine hydroxylase positive dopaminergic neurons. TH+ dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain region, called substantia nigra pars compacta, are known to degenerate in patients with PD. This degeneration is attributed to lead to the cardinal Parkinsonian symptoms of tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural disturbances. In a previous study, SLS-004 demonstrated therapeutically desirable reduction in SNCA mRNA – alpha-synuclein messenger RNA – which led to reduced alpha-synuclein protein expression. A reduction of 25%-50% in SNCA mRNA and protein expression is believed to be sufficient to restore normal physiological levels of alpha-synuclein. Preliminary findings indicate that a single dose of SLS-004 administered in the SNpc of the test hemisphere in the brain produced a substantial increase in and recovery of degenerating TH+ dopaminergic neurons compared to the administration of the control vector in the SNpc of the other hemisphere. Seelos plans to advance the study of SLS-004 in PD.