The international pharmaceutical company Servier and the research center Médica Aplicada (CIMA) of the University of Navarra have signed two agreements partnership to research two of the most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases in the world: Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. With this alliance, the pharmaceutical company supports CIMA to promote the scientific knowledge in the treatment of these diseases and to deepen the study of the causes and mechanisms by which neurodegeneration occurs.

The first agreement is to investigate the potential of a new target, identified at CIMA, to treat Alzheimer's disease. The study of this target will allow a better knowledge of the disease, as well as the identification and development of possible new therapeutic agents. The project is directed by Dr. Julen Oyarzabal, director of Translational Science and the Molecular Therapies Program, and Dr. Alberto Pérez-Mediavilla, of the Neurosciences Program. The partnership with Servier's research Team is a great opportunity to associate research basic with advanced technology and with the experience and knowledge in the finding of drugs.

The second partnership is coordinated by Dr. Monserrat Arrasate, also a researcher in the Neurosciences Program at CIMA. Its goal is to develop and implement specific advanced software that will allow the identification of compounds that decrease neuronal death caused by synuclein, a protein core topic in the neurodegeneration of Parkinson's disease.

Both teams at research have extensive, internationally recognized experience in the identification and validation of new therapeutic targets and in the development of specific technology for the study of neuronal survival.

According to Jesús Hernández Cabrero, director general of CIMA, "this agreement exemplifies the model of partnership desirable between the university research and the pharmaceutical business , in order to accelerate the finding of new therapies".

For Carmen Gorostiaga, Director of Servier's research , this partnership "is an important step forward in our quest for innovation in pioneering centers for the research of new drugs".

Prevalence of these neurodegenerative diseases

Alzheimer's disease is a neurological disorder that causes the death of nerve cells in the brain. It is the leading cause of dementia and is suffered by around 31 million people worldwide, 3.5 million of them in Europe and 400,000 in Spain.  

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disease caused by the death or deterioration of dopaminergic neurons, nerve cells in the brain that produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter involved in important biological functions such as movement, behavior and cognition. It affects 2% of the world's population over 65 years of age and, although it is associated with aging, between 15 and 20% of patients are under 50 years of age.

The Neurosciences Program at CIMA investigates the cellular and molecular instructions of the cognitive deterioration caused by these diseases. Its goal is to identify new therapeutic targets and develop treatments to slow or halt their progression.

About the CIMA

The research center Applied Medicine (CIMA) is an institution of research biomedical of the University of Navarra. Its scientific activity aims to expand the knowledge of human biology by identifying and validating cellular targets and mechanisms that can be acted upon medically, designing therapeutic agents and new diagnostic tools. Nearly 300 professionals work at CIMA researching oncological, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, hepatic and rare diseases, and advancing in the development of techniques such as immunotherapy or gene therapy.

About Servier

Servier is an independent French pharmaceutical company research . area Its development is based on the continuous search for innovation in cardiovascular, metabolic, neurological, psychiatric, bone and joint diseases, as well as oncology.

In 2015, the company recorded a turnover of EUR 3.9 billion.

91% of Servier's pharmaceuticals are consumed outside France.

25% of Servier's product turnover was reinvested in research and development in 2015.

With a strong international presence in 148 countries, Servier employs more than 21,200 people worldwide. 

About Servier in Neuropsychiatry

Servier has a strong commitment to neuropsychiatry and to finding new treatments for patients with neurological problems. Its research team is working on innovative pathways to treat Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, as well as a broad spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders, and targeting toxic proteins that can lead to neuronal death. The priority is to target the cause of the diseases rather than the symptoms. In this very promising area , there are currently 5 projects at different stages of development from research. This research portlophy is being developed through collaborations with academic centers and biotech companies around the world.

More information is available at available : www.servier.com