Improving quality of life for millions of people with Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease is one of the fastest-growing neurological disorders. Its global prevalence
DOPAGuard addresses this challenge by developing a novel drug candidate that is compatible with the current standard of care for Parkinson’s disease. Treatment currently relies heavily on a drug called levodopa, but its effects often become less predictable as the disease progresses. DOPAGuard aims to reduce the loss of levodopa before it reaches the brain. This loss can be caused by enzymes produced both by the human body and by bacteria in the gut.
How the new drug candidate extends levodopa protection
DOPAGuard builds on five years of research at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, combining Parkinson’s pharmacology, microbiome research, enzymology and medicinal chemistry. The researchers screened approximately 5,000 molecules to identify compounds capable of reducing levodopa loss by simultaneously inhibiting both TyrDC, an enzyme produced by gut bacteria, and DDC, an enzyme found in the human body.
The research identified four molecules, with one lead candidate selected for further development. A key strength of the drug candidate is its dual action – current carbidopa- and benserazide-based treatments inhibit only the activity of the human DDC enzyme.
DOPAGuard’s activity has been confirmed in preclinical studies. The next step is to investigate the drug candidate in a living organism using in-vivo models. The team has received Research to Business funding from Business Finland to prepare the innovation for commercialization.
Benefits for patients and healthcare
DOPAGuard is designed as an orally administered drug candidate. It is intended to selectively target the desired enzymes without disrupting the gut bacteria themselves. The drug is not intended to enter the brain and can be used alongside current levodopa treatments.
DOPAGuard could benefit both patients and healthcare systems in several ways. A more consistent response to levodopa could make treatment easier to manage and reduce the associated burden. At the same time, it could help patients remain on oral therapies for longer before having to move on to more invasive treatment options.
A multibillion-euro market for Parkinson’s treatments
DOPAGuard is targeting the large and established Parkinson’s disease treatment market. The global market
Carbidopa-levodopa combination therapy represented
The team aims to develop DOPAGuard into a therapeutic asset that could be used to optimize oral levodopa treatment and in next-generation combination products. One potential route is to establish a spinout company in 2028. Other commercialization options include licensing, co-development and strategic partnerships.
Next steps for the project
The team will next investigate whether the promising laboratory findings can be confirmed in subsequent stages of drug development. This includes studying how the drug candidate behaves in a living organism and developing a suitable formulation. The team is also focusing on scaling up production, quality assurance and meeting regulatory requirements. Once the final drug candidate is ready for further development, DOPAGuard aims to progress step by step towards studies in humans.
Summary
DOPAGuard is developing a novel oral drug designed to improve the reliability of levodopa treatment for Parkinson’s disease. The drug would reduce the premature loss of levodopa by targeting both the human DDC enzyme and the TyrDC enzyme produced by gut bacteria. This would allow more levodopa to reach the bloodstream and subsequently the brain, where it is converted into dopamine.
The core team developing the drug candidate includes Professor Päivi Tammela, Project Director; Professor Mikko Airavaara and Dr Jayendrakumar Patel, Principal Investigators; and Dr Tatiana Danilova, Commercialization Lead. The project is also supported by advisers with expertise in drug development.
Join us in collaboration
The University of Helsinki's commercialisation projects offer opportunities for collaboration across a wide range of industries and technology domains. We are interested in connecting with industry partners, investors, funding organisations, and potential customers to explore co-development, validation, piloting, licensing, venture creation, and other pathways to market.
Contact us
Professor Päivi Tammela
Project Lead
Dr. Tatiana Danilova
Commercialization Lead