New research front to tackle Friedreich’s Ataxia

IRB Barcelona, 14 Mar 2017. IRB Barcelona starts a project with the long-term goal to achieve an injectable frataxin treatment able to reach the brain. The project specifically aims to complete a step necessary in order to move towards a future frataxin replacement therapy for the brain, where the reduction of this protein causes the most damage in patients with Friedreich’s Ataxia.

The study is headed by Ernest Giralt, head of the Peptides and Proteins Lab, who has many years of experience and is a recognised expert in peptide chemistry and new systems of through which to delivery drugs to the brain, such as peptide shuttles—molecules that have the capacity to carry the drug across the barrier that surrounds and protects the brain. Since the lab started its relation with these patients’ associations in 2013*, it has been developing another two projects into Friedrich’s Ataxia.


 New research front to tackle Friedreich’s Ataxia