Fighting Parkinson’s takes teamwork, innovation, and a lot of dedication. With over 10 million people worldwide living with Parkinson’s and nearly 90,000 new diagnoses in the U.S. every year, finding better ways to detect and treat the disease is more important than ever. The financial burden is massive with global costs hitting $52 billion annually.
That’s why early detection and better treatments are so critical. The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) is leading the charge in Parkinson’s research. Their mission is to find a cure and improve life for those dealing with Parkinson’s today.
The Challenge: Creating a Key Imaging Tool
MJFF teamed up with Parimer to solve a major problem. Several researchers needed a specific reagent to develop imaging tracers that help detect Parkinson’s early. One of the issues though is that the reagent was discontinued by manufacturers, making it nearly impossible to get.
“One of the biggest challenges in Parkinson’s research isn’t just finding new treatments—it’s making sure scientists have access to the right tools to push discoveries forward.” – Dr. Todd Sherer, former CEO of MJFF
That’s where Parimer came in, referred to by a pharmaceutical company working on Parkinson’s research, they developed an ongoing production strategy to keep researchers supplied with what they needed.
Why This Imaging Tracer Matters
This imaging tracer plays a big role in detecting Parkinson’s early. It helps researchers identify disease markers in biological samples, leading to more precise diagnosis and monitoring.
But making it isn’t easy:
Precision is everything – The reagent has to be made under strict light-sensitive conditions, like photographic processing chemicals.
Custom production is a must – There’s no off-the-shelf version of this, so Parimer had to tailor the production process.
Small-scale, big impact – Even though they’re only making small batches, the impact on research is huge.
“New biomarkers for Parkinson’s will be a game-changer. They’ll help us detect and monitor the disease more accurately, bringing us closer to treatments that slow or stop its progression.” – Nicole K. Polinski, PhD, Director of Research Resources, MJFF
How Parimer Made It Happen
Parimer tackled this challenge with creative problem-solving and strong collaboration.
Here’s what they did:
Small-Batch Production – Perfect for this unique research need.
Worked with Experts – Partnered with other institutions to make sure the reagent met all necessary standards.
Reverse Engineered Old Components – Since the original manufacturers stopped making it, Parimer figured out how to recreate and improve it.
Focused on Long-Term Access – Keeping production costs in check while making sure researchers have what they need.
The Bigger Picture: What This Means for Parkinson’s Research
This collaboration shows how essential tailored solutions are in medical research. By stepping up to fill a critical gap, Parimer is making early Parkinson’s detection more possible and helping researchers take big steps toward better treatments.
What’s Next?
Parimer and MJFF aren’t stopping here. MJFF gave Parimer a grant at the start of Q4 2024, and by early Q1 2025, a working prototype was already in hand. They’re aiming for a final product to be released by the end of Q1 2025.
Looking ahead, they’ll focus on scaling production, making sure the reagent stays available, and solving issues like shelf life to ensure long-term success.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation is constantly pushing the boundaries of Parkinson’s research. Want to learn more or support their work? Visit www.michaeljfox.org.
Curious about how Parimer supports cutting-edge research? Check out our scientific solutions at www.parimer.com.
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