A consortium of Tucumán researchers developed a new molecule in the fight against the disease and it was patented in the United States
Research started 14 years ago by scientists from the National University of Tucumán (UNT) continues to advance towards the creation of a medicine that would help treat Parkinson’s.
Yesterday, in the rectorate’s assembly hall, Dr. Rosana Chehín presented the progress of the Pegasus project, which with the support of public and private investment is getting closer and closer to its objective. Pegasus (or DAD 9) is the name with which the molecule created in a laboratory that would be used to combat the neuronal disease that affects the nervous system was patented.
The project is developed in conjunction with researchers from National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (Conicet) and the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) where the first tests were carried out that convinced engineer Claude Burgio, founder of the company Sky Bio, to invest in the project.
The president of Conicet, Daniel Salamone, who participated in the meeting yesterday via Zoom, highlighted all the scientists who participated in the project and added: “this is the path we want to follow, that of helping people. “This is a work of many years and it will take even longer to complete, but this progress gives hope that this is the way.” At the same time, he valued the investment made by Sky Bio: “it is extremely difficult to link the financing of public and private research, however that happened here.”
The UBA professor also participated in the meeting, Oscar Varelafrom the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, whose team worked together with that of Chehín.
Project in phase three
From Washington DC, Charbel Moussa, professor at Georgetown University of Medicine, explained that with the investment made by Sky Bio they were able to continue and deepen the work started by Immca and the UBA. His translator pointed out that in the United States they outlined five steps to follow and that the project is already in phase 3.
In the first instance, Georgetown scientists produced the Pegasus molecule on a larger scale. The second step was to expand the cell type in small animal models. “These results were validated by both Georgetown and the company Pronexus. Then the studies were expanded with the collaboration of the company Eurofins,” he explained.
“Now we are finishing phase three and we are planning how to approach phase four, which will be tested on larger animals, such as dogs,” Moussa explained. Finally, if the results are positive, the project will address phase 5, which will consist of encapsulating the drug and clinically testing it in people.
One of the most anticipated words was that of engineer Burgio, who provided the economic capital so that the research born in our province could take off. “We worked verbally together for seven years, without anything signed, simply looking for something that would help us fight Parkinson’s. I believe that one development paves the way for another and that is the way,” summarized the French businessman who spoke well in Spanish.
Repercussions
“There is no such thing in the world that, together, the academy and researchers of Tucumán and Buenos Aires, with the contribution of a French engineer, have arrived at this, which is why it fills us with pride: it is the conjunction of great teams that are looking for a molecule that serves to save lives and help those who suffer from this disease,” he stressed. Luis Medina RuizHealth Minister.
“Both UNT, Health and Conicet participated in the basic research that later led to the possibility of application due to the monetary contribution of a French company that trusted our researchers and detected the potential of this project. The UBA and researchers from the US joined the research and will continue with the clinical phase in animals and then in humans so that we finally have a medicine that helps us address this disease,” he noted. Sergio Paganirector of UNT.
“I encourage our scientists to continue working on basic research, because it is hard and sacrificial, many times it does not have the expected result and it can even take dozens of years to be applied; But if there is no basic research, there will never be applied research, which is why we have to sustain research in the country, because we have the most expensive thing, which is human capital. We have to remain committed to our researchers,” Pagani concluded.
