ZyVersa's Parkinson's Disease Study Shows Promise in Slowing Disease Progression

ZyVersa Therapeutics, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, has received a grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation to study its treatment for Parkinson's disease. The study, conducted by the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, aims to target both abnormal alpha-synuclein accumulation/aggregation and inflammasome activation, key contributors to PD progression. The current global PD drug market is valued at $6.6 billion and projected to reach $13.3 billion by 2034.

ZyVersa Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZVSA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has received a significant boost in its efforts to develop a treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD). The company has secured a grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation to support a study conducted by the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. The research aims to target both abnormal alpha-synuclein accumulation/aggregation and inflammasome activation, key contributors to PD progression [1].

Parkinson's disease affects over 10 million people globally and is driven by inflammation leading to progressive neurodegeneration, resulting in impaired mobility, cognitive decline, and other neurological symptoms [1]. Current PD treatments focus solely on managing symptoms rather than addressing the underlying disease. The global PD drug market was valued at $6.6 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $13.3 billion by 2034, indicating a substantial market opportunity for innovative treatments [2].

The study, published in npj Parkinson's Disease, a peer-reviewed journal from Nature, demonstrates that ZyVersa's Inflammasome ASC Inhibitor IC 100 can block microglial inflammasome activation and reduce neurotoxic alpha-synuclein accumulation, both of which are critical factors in PD progression [1]. Dr. Robert W. Keane, Professor of Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Miami, and lead author of the study, noted that targeting inflammasomes and ASC specks may be a promising approach not only for PD but also for Lewy body dementia (LBD) and Alzheimer’s Disease [1].

IC 100 is a novel humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody that inhibits the inflammasome adaptor protein ASC. It is designed to attenuate both the initiation and perpetuation of the inflammatory response by binding to a specific region of the ASC component of multiple types of inflammasomes, including NLRP1, NLRP2, NLRP3, NLRC4, AIM2, and Pyrin [1]. The lead indication for IC 100 is obesity and its associated metabolic complications, but its potential for treating neurodegenerative diseases is being explored.

ZyVersa Therapeutics is well-positioned in the rapidly emerging inflammasome space with IC 100 and in kidney disease with phase 2 Cholesterol Efflux Mediator™ VAR 200. The company's pipeline includes potential treatments for a wide range of inflammatory and renal diseases, with a total accessible market of over $100 billion [1].

The study results strengthen ZyVersa's belief in IC 100 as a potential disease-modifying therapy for Parkinson's and prepare the company to initiate proof-of-concept studies in animal models later this year [1]. However, investors should be cautious as the study is still in its early stages, and future clinical trials will be crucial in determining the drug's efficacy and safety.

References:
[1] https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/04/29/3070085/0/en/ZyVersa-Therapeutics-Announces-Published-Data-Showing-Inflammasome-ASC-Inhibitor-IC-100-Decreases-Microglial-Inflammasome-Activation-and-Alpha-Synuclein-That-Contribute-to-Neurodeg.html
[2] https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com,2025-04-29:newsml_GNX6XwNRc:0-zyversa-therapeutics-announces-published-data-showing-inflammasome-asc-inhibitor-ic-100-decreases-microglial-inflammasome-activation-and-alpha-synuclein-that-contribute-to-neurodegeneration-in-parkinson-s-disease/