Inverna Therapeutics Receives Major Grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation to Boost Parkinson’s Research
Just nine months after its founding in January 2024, Odense-based biotech company Inverna Therapeutics has received a major boost to its mission of developing a treatment for Parkinson’s disease.
Global Collaboration on Parkinson’s Innovation
The company has been awarded a USD 700,000 (approx. DKK 5 million) research grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF), one of the world’s leading supporters of Parkinson’s innovation. The funding will help advance Inverna’s next-generation RNA therapy, a new approach aimed at slowing or stopping the progression of Parkinson’s disease.
The grant is part of MJFF’s international LITE program (LRRK2 Investigative Therapeutics Exchange), which supports innovative biotech companies and promotes collaboration among top scientists working to develop better treatments for Parkinson’s.
“This is a very important milestone for Inverna. Our MJFF grant represents a strong external validation from some of the leading experts in the field. It confirms the potential and differentiation of our RNA technology platform for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. At the same time, our participation in the LITE program will naturally accelerate the development of our LRRK2 program, which the funding is specifically allocated to. We are proud to receive this recognition and excited to collaborate internationally to move closer to new and more effective therapies for patients.”
Fighting a Growing Global Challenge
Parkinson’s disease currently affects around six million people worldwide, and this number is expected to double by 2040. Inverna’s approach focuses on reducing the activity of a key gene, LRRK2, which plays a central role in how the disease develops. By using advanced RNA technology, the company aims to address the underlying biology of Parkinson’s rather than just the symptoms.
Next Steps Toward Clinical Development
Over the next 18 months, Inverna will carry out laboratory and preclinical studies to test the therapy’s effectiveness and safety before moving toward clinical trials in patients. Founded in 2024 and based in Odense, Inverna Therapeutics is part of the city’s rapidly growing life science ecosystem, where biotech companies, researchers, and investors collaborate to develop breakthrough medical innovations.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation grant highlights both Inverna’s scientific potential and Odense’s position as an emerging European hub for biotech and RNA innovation.
Further information
Lone Krogsbøll
Investment Manager - Life Science
I help foreign companies in the biotech and life science industry to establish in Odense and connect them to relevant business partners and opportunities here. My background is in health tech, but I’ve focused on broader life science sectors since 2018.
+45 5177 7344
loak@odense.dk
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