Max Planck Society, Lead Discovery Center and Grünenthal enter into a research collaboration on Charcot-Marie-Tooth 1A (CMT1A)


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Grünenthal, Lead Discovery Center GmbH (LDC), Max-Planck Innovation and the Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine (MPI-EM) have entered into a research collaboration to develop novel therapies for patients suffering from Charcot-Marie-Tooth 1A (CMT1A), an inherited neurological disorder. The collaboration combines the disease proficiency of MPI-EM, the drug discovery expertise of LDC and Grünenthal’s competency in drug discovery and development as well as pain management. The project’s scientific foundation was laid at MPI-EM by Michael Sereda, Klaus-Armin Nave and Moritz Rossner.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth is one of the most common inherited neurological disorders, affecting approximately 1 in 2.500 people. It affects both motor and sensory nerves and symptoms include weakness of the foot and lower leg muscles, foot deformities, pain, and numbness. CMT1A is the most common form of CMT and results from a duplication of the gene on chromosome 17 that carries the instructions for producing the peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22). PMP22 is a critical component of the myelin sheath that isolates human peripheral nerve. Overexpression of this gene causes the structure and function of the myelin sheath to be abnormal, resulting in a slower conduction of nerve impulses. Currently, there is no curative therapeutic treatment available.

Within the framework of this research collaboration, LDC and MPI-EM intend to establish a novel screening platform to identify small molecule modulators to generate innovative drug candidates. These research efforts are equally funded by the Max Planck Society and the pharmaceutical company Grünenthal which is specialized in pain, gout and inflammation. Grünenthal will assume responsibility for the development of any drug candidates derived from this research collaboration from the identification of preclinical candidate onwards.

It’s our aspiration to provide patients with disease modifying treatments. We therefore team up with academia and foster research collaborations leveraging basic research. There is no curative treatment available for patients affected by CMT1A. This neurological disorder places a burden on patients and we’re looking forward to developing potential treatment options with our partners.

Gabriel Baertschi, CEO Grünenthal

We are enthusiastic to collaborate with Grünenthal and our MPI-EM colleagues on this early-stage drug discovery project. As a leading specialist in pain research and pain management, Grünenthal’s synergistic capabilities will help advance this joint project to hopefully make a difference in the lives of CMT1A patients.

Bert Klebl, CEO and CSO of LDC


About Max Planck Innovation

Max Planck Innovation is responsible for the technology transfer of the Max Planck Society and, as such, the link between industry and basic research. With our interdisciplinary team we advise and support scientists of the Max Planck Institutes in evaluating their inventions, filing patents and founding companies. We offer industry a unique access to the innovations of the Max Planck Institutes. Thus we perform an important task: the transfer of basic research results into products, which contribute to the economic and social progress.

For more information please visit www.max-planck-innovation.de.

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