Member Spotlight: Herantis Pharma – aiming to stop the progression of Parkinson’s disease

Herantis Pharma has taken a significant step forward in developing HER-096, a new therapeutic candidate designed to slow down and ultimately stop the progression of Parkinson’s disease. CEO Antti Vuolanto explains how the company, which originated as a University of Helsinki spin-off, has advanced from early studies on the CDNF protein to a small, blood-brain-barrier-penetrating peptide – and what comes next in the development of HER-096.

From CDNF to clinical results

Herantis was founded in 2008 as a spin-off from the University of Helsinki. Early-stage research focused on CDNF (cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor), a neurotrophic factor that showed promising signals in both preclinical and early clinical studies. In a Phase I clinical trial conducted between 2017 and 2020, 17 patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease received CDNF via an intracranial infusion system.

“Some patients showed clinical and biological responses, but with such a small study population, statistical significance could not be demonstrated,” Vuolanto summarizes.

The experience was decisive: intracranial administration is far too invasive for large-scale use in a disease affecting 10 million people worldwide. The goal became to find a molecule that could cross the blood-brain barrier and retain CDNF’s neuroprotective effects – without the need for neurosurgery.

HER-096: a small peptide with big potential

At the end of 2019, Herantis patented a library of new peptides, and in 2021 the company selected HER-096 as its lead candidate – a nine–amino acid D-peptide, a mirror image of natural peptides that does not degrade in the body. In preclinical models, HER-096 replicated CDNF’s neuroprotective effects and effectively crossed the blood-brain barrier.

“Our goal is to stop neuronal degeneration at the time of diagnosis – when quality of life is still good – and to keep it that way,” Vuolanto says.

Current Parkinson’s treatments are symptomatic, providing dopamine “artificially.” HER-096 aims to restore the natural function of dopamine-producing neurons, making it possible to halt the disease early in its course.

Phase 1b: safety and blood-brain-barrier penetration confirmed

In 2025, Parkinson’s patients were treated with HER-096 for the first time in a Phase 1b clinical trial. The study included 24 patients in the early to mid stages of the disease who received doses of 200 or 300 milligrams twice weekly for four weeks.

The study confirmed that HER-096 administration was safe for patients – a key requirement for advancing clinical development. Concentrations measured in cerebrospinal fluid matched predictions, confirming that the compound crosses the blood-brain barrier in patients. Based on the results, the twice-weekly 300 mg dose was selected as the foundation for planning the next trial phase.

“It was a short treatment period for a chronic disease, so it’s too early to draw conclusions on efficacy. However, our goal is to show through biomarkers that the treatment acts as expected on the targeted neuronal metabolic pathways – to demonstrate that the desired biological process has started. That would be the first step toward clinical efficacy,” Vuolanto explains.

A broad biomarker analysis will complete the Phase 1b dataset by the end of the year.

Phase 2 in 2026 – funding is the next hurdle

Herantis aims to launch a Phase 2 efficacy study starting in 2026. The estimated cost of the trial is around EUR 15–20 million, with additional working capital needed for the two-year project period. There are several funding options on the table: Herantis is seeking a partnership with a larger pharmaceutical company, considering raising new equity capital, and exploring research funding opportunities such as EU grants. The patient foundations Michael J. Fox Foundation and Parkinson’s UK, which have already supported Herantis, may also continue their involvement.

“I’m confident we’ll secure the funding. Globally, there are surprisingly few efficacy trials ongoing for truly disease-modifying Parkinson’s therapies – even though the medical need and market potential are enormous.”

The potential Phase 3 study would most likely be carried out in collaboration with a global partner.

Finland’s ecosystem: world-class science, limited capital

According to Vuolanto, Finnish academic neuroscience and clinical research are among the best in the world. The main challenge, however, remains familiar: limited access to capital and the short-term nature of funding compared to international rounds that often reach tens or even hundreds of millions.

Collaboration with the Michael J. Fox Foundation and Parkinson’s UK has been crucial not only for funding but also for credibility. Their thorough due diligence and ongoing scientific dialogue serve as a strong “international quality stamp” for Herantis.

Looking beyond Parkinson’s to other neurodegenerative diseases

HER-096’s mechanism of action helps restore the natural balance of neurons on multiple levels – reducing cellular stress and supporting neuronal health. The same biological pathways play a central role in other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, ALS, and Huntington’s disease.

“The biology that HER-096 targets is shared across many neurodegenerative disorders. It’s entirely possible that in the future, the same therapeutic platform could work in several indications,” Vuolanto says.

HER-096 has the potential to transform the treatment paradigm for neurodegenerative diseases – shifting the focus from merely alleviating symptoms to stopping disease progression and restoring neuronal function.