Disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) and the spinal cord affect around 165 million Europeans with diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. CNS disorders are often associated with high morbidity, significant side effects, severe suffering of the patients and their families, as well as an enormous burden on the social systems. Therefore, the Bio2Brain network will establish a trans-European research network to promote efficient drug administration to the CNS.
A highly critical challenge in that context is the existence of the Blood-Brain-Barrier (BBB), an effective human defence system that protects the CNS from circulating pathogens. However, it also results in a low central availability of drugs in the CNS, especially innovative biopharmaceuticals like monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). As a consequence, drugs with a low CNS bioavailability are currently delivered directly to the CNS via intrathecal, intracerebroventricular, or intraparenchymal injections.
Unfortunately, such delivery systems are invasive, require a surgery with high risks, have a very low patient compliance, and are poorly controllable. Hence, there is a critical need for an effective new approach for drug delivery technologies in the treatment of brain diseases with CNS active molecules. In order to find a viable solution, the Bio2Brain network will peruse more effective approaches and develop new paradigms for drug delivery technologies in the treatment of CNS diseases.