Leeds-based 4D pharma said the Patient Advisory Board will include people living with Parkinson’s.

Supported by Parkinson’s UK, the board will provide a valuable, patient-centric perspective to 4D pharma as it advances novel Live Biotherapeutics into the clinic to treat neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s.

The board will also focus on raising awareness of the issues people with Parkinson’s face with current treatment options.

Alex Stevenson, chief scientific officer at 4D pharma, said: “4D pharma selected to work with Parkinson’s UK to represent the patient community as the largest charitable funder of Parkinson’s research in Europe.

“The contributions of our Patient Advisory Board, with the support of Parkinson’s UK, will be vital to 4D pharma’s efforts to not only develop novel therapeutics for this devastating condition, but also promote a dialogue and partnership with the Parkinson’s patient community.”

Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world. Mr Stevenson said it is important that therapeutics in development address the issues of patients.

“By working with Parkinson’s UK and our Patient Advisory Board, 4D pharma is better able to engage Parkinson’s patients with our clinical programs as we work to bring the first Live Biotherapeutic for the treatment of this condition into the clinic,” he added.

Natasha Ratcliffe, research involvement manager at Parkinson’s UK, said: “145,000 people are currently living with Parkinson’s in the UK alone.

“There is a desperate need for new and better treatments. To develop these, it is vital to involve people affected by Parkinson’s at every stage of research – from setting priorities and making decisions about funding to designing trials.

“We’re delighted to be working with innovative companies like 4D pharma that share these values with us and are bringing new approaches to developing transformational new treatments for Parkinson’s. The Patient Advisory Board will enable people affected by Parkinson’s to have input into the development of this novel treatment.”

The announcement builds on 4D pharma’s previously announced partnership with the Michael J. Fox Foundation-sponsored Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI).

4D pharma has plans for a first-in-human clinical trial in Parkinson’s disease patients of its oral single strain Live Biotherapeutics.