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This excerpt taken from the ELN 20-F filed Feb 28, 2008. Elan’s
Parkinson’s Research
Parkinson’s disease is believed to be a result of misfolded
proteins in the brain. Parkinson’s disease is characterized
by the accumulation of aggregated alpha-synuclein, or Lewy
bodies, in degenerating neurons in particular regions of the
brain.
Elan’s early discovery efforts in Parkinson’s disease
were guided by our expertise and leadership in Alzheimer’s
disease research. Our scientists have made significant
scientific progress to date in identifying unusual modified
forms of alpha-synuclein in human Parkinson’s disease brain
tissue. These unique forms have led us to a series of
therapeutic targets that will be a focus of our small and large
molecule drug discovery efforts over the next few years.
Our scientists are also studying parkin, a protein found in the
brain that has been genetically linked to Parkinson’s
disease. Parkin may be involved in the elimination of misfolded
proteins within neurons. Some familial forms of Parkinson’s
disease have been linked to mutations in parkin, and we are
actively studying the relationship between parkin activity and
neurodegeneration. This research is in the drug discovery stage.
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