Explore the Parkinson's Virtual Biotech
Discover how our Virtual Biotech works, what it's achieved, and how you can support our groundbreaking research.
People with Parkinson’s desperately need new and better treatments. New therapies that can slow, stop or reverse the progression of the condition, and treatments that can better manage symptoms and reduce side effects.
However, despite decades of research and scientific discoveries, new treatments remain just out of reach.
We believe new and better treatments for Parkinson’s are possible, but there is simply not enough focus or investment in turning exciting discoveries into new therapies.
That’s where the Virtual Biotech comes in. We designed the programme to bridge this gap and help take promising ideas for new therapies forward.
Explore our projects
We're investing in a wide range of projects pursuing treatments with the potential to make a life-changing impact for people living with Parkinson’s.
These include pioneering projects developing new drugs in the lab, alongside groundbreaking clinical trials which are testing promising new treatments in people with Parkinson's.
Find out more about 3 of our most exciting projects below.
This pioneering clinical trial is investigating if cannabidiol (CBD), a compound found in the cannabis plant, can treat hallucinations and delusions in people living with Parkinson’s.
The study is currently looking for people with Parkinson's who experience hallucinations or delusions across England and Wales.
This study hopes to preserve brain cells by targeting inflammation in the brain.
The trial is testing a drug, called PXS-4728, in people with REM sleep behaviour disorder because people with this condition are at increased risk of developing Parkinson's. The hope is the drug could help slow or even prevent the progression of Parkinson’s.
Results from this trial were announced in 2023 and show NLX-112 could treat motor symptoms as well as dyskinesia. If further trials are successful, we could have a valuable new Parkinson’s drug by 2030.
The trial was co-funded by Parkinson's UK through the Parkinson's Virtual Biotech and the Michael J. Fox Foundation, and led by Neurolixis.
How does the Parkinson's Virtual Biotech work?
We carefully select the projects with the greatest potential to transform life for people with Parkinson’s. We invest in rapidly testing and developing them.
We act as investors, with the experts and resources to actively monitor and manage each project. We understand the drug development business and are driven by results. But because it’s driven by people with Parkinson’s, not by profits, we’ll invest where others won’t.
Unlike a traditional biotech, our agile approach means that none of our funding is tied up in bricks or people. We have no large teams of scientists or expensive labs to run.
Instead, we partner with institutions and pharmaceutical companies that already have the expertise, tools and infrastructure. We’re not bound by location, or limited to backing research we’ve already funded. We invest in the best ideas and work with the top experts, wherever they are.
Support the Virtual Biotech by becoming a major donor
Our earliest projects were funded thanks to a generous gift from The Allan Willett Foundation. And you can help find the next Parkinson’s treatment in years not decades. Contact our Major Gifts team to donate to the Virtual Biotech.
We build long-term partnerships with philanthropists, grant-making trusts, foundations and companies who all play a pivotal role in funding breakthroughs.