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Latest News on Herantis Pharma and Parkinson’s
Herantis Pharma, a Finland-based clinical-stage biotech company, is actively working on a potential disease-modifying therapy for Parkinson’s disease with their lead candidate, HER-096. Here’s the most recent progress:
- Phase 1b Clinical Trial Update: As of January 28, 2025, Herantis announced that the first Parkinson’s patient had been dosed in Part 2 of their ongoing Phase 1b clinical trial for HER-096. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial is being conducted in Turku and Helsinki, Finland. The trial’s primary aim is to assess the safety and tolerability of repeated subcutaneous doses of HER-096 in Parkinson’s patients. It builds on the Phase 1a trial (completed in late 2023), which showed good safety, tolerability, and efficient blood-brain barrier penetration in healthy volunteers. Topline data from this Phase 1b trial is expected in Q3 2025.
- Funding and Partnerships: In 2024, Herantis secured €3.6 million from the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) and Parkinson’s UK Virtual Biotech (€1.8 million each) to support this Phase 1b trial. This external validation from prestigious organizations underscores the promise of HER-096. Additionally, on February 6, 2025, Herantis announced a directed share issue to institutional and qualified investors, with trading of new shares expected to start around February 18, 2025, on Nasdaq First North Growth Market Finland, further bolstering their financial position.
- HER-096’s Mechanism: HER-096 is a synthetic peptidomimetic molecule designed to mimic cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor (CDNF), a protein that supports neuron survival. Unlike many existing treatments that manage symptoms, HER-096 aims to protect brain cells and potentially slow or stop Parkinson’s progression. Its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier is a key advantage, demonstrated in earlier studies.
- Next Steps: Herantis is seeking a partner to support a Phase II trial, which they plan to launch in 2026 if Phase 1b results are positive. This reflects their strategy to scale development while managing costs and risks.
Posts on X from July 2024 also highlighted this collaboration between Herantis, MJFF, and Parkinson’s UK, noting the trial as a pioneering effort to test a treatment that might protect brain cells, aligning with the company’s official updates.
Odds of Success
Assessing the odds of Herantis Pharma successfully developing a Parkinson’s cure involves both specific and general factors:
- HER-096’s Potential: Preclinical and Phase 1a data are encouraging—HER-096 has shown neuroprotection in animal models and safe penetration into the brain in humans. If Phase 1b confirms safety in patients and hints at efficacy (e.g., via the Movement Disorder Society – Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale or wearable device data), it could position HER-096 as a rare disease-modifying candidate. However, it’s still early-stage, with efficacy unproven in humans.
- Industry Context: The Parkinson’s treatment landscape is challenging. Over 90% of neurodegenerative drug candidates fail in clinical trials due to the disease’s complexity—variable progression, mixed symptoms (motor and non-motor), and incomplete understanding of its causes. Recent flops like Inhibikase’s risvodetinib (January 2025) and lixisenatide (February 2025) highlight this risk. Conversely, successes like AbbVie’s tavapadon (late-stage, 2024) show progress is possible, though not curative.
- Finnish Advantage: Finland’s biotech ecosystem, with its focus on innovation and collaboration (e.g., via the European Innovation Council), could give Herantis an edge. Their small, focused team and high-profile backing mitigate some financial and scientific risks.
- Realistic Odds: Without Phase 1b efficacy data, it’s speculative to assign precise odds. Generally, early-stage neurodegenerative drugs have a 5-10% chance of reaching market approval, per industry stats. For a cure (stopping progression entirely), the bar is higher—perhaps under 5%—given no such drug exists yet. Herantis’s odds might be slightly better than average due to HER-096’s novel approach and strong preliminary results, but success hinges on upcoming trials.
Conclusion
Herantis Pharma’s HER-096 is a promising candidate in the Parkinson’s space, with the Phase 1b trial underway and results due in Q3 2025. While it’s not a guaranteed cure, its disease-modifying potential sets it apart from symptom-focused treatments.