STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a Parkinson’s drug setback, a Merck lung cancer therapy, and more
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- Pharmalittle reported that Biogen and Denali Therapeutics’ experimental Parkinson’s therapy failed to slow disease progression in a randomized trial of 648 adults, targeting the LRRK2 protein.
- Pharmalittle noted that the trial’s null result undermines the hypothesis that blocking LRRK2 benefits all Parkinson’s patients, a concept first suggested in 2018.
- Pharmalittle reported that Genentech announced a grant program offering up to $125,000 to academics for independent research on U.S. drug pricing policies, innovation as a strategic national asset, and R&D risks, with proposals due June 30.
- Pharmalittle indicated that Genentech’s solicitation explicitly seeks research that aligns with specific policy talking points, reflecting a direct corporate effort to shape the discourse.
Why it matters: Patients and investors lose hope as Biogen’s trial failure threatens the LRRK2 approach, while Genentech’s $125k grants steer academic research toward industry‑favored policy narratives, influencing future drug‑pricing legislation.
