On Wednesday, 12 June 2013, the UIC and the Spanish pharmaceutical company Ferrer signed a collaboration agreement establishing the Ferrer Nucleo CMP Forte Programme. The new programme will promote research into the effects of Ferrer's drug Nucleo CMP Forte on the myelination of the peripheral nerves in order to confirm the benefits of the drug in treating demyelinating disorders, such as leukodystrophies, diabetic neuropathy and chronic inflammatory polyneuropathy.
From Ferrer, Dr. Fernando García Alonso, the Director of the Scientific Area; Dr. Joaquim Delgadillo, the Director of Clinical Development; and Dr. José L. Lorenzo, the Medical Director were present at the signing of the agreement. From the UIC, Rector Dr. Pere Alavedra; Dr. Albert Balaguer, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences; and Dr. Núria Casals, the Head of the Nucleo CMP-Forte Ferrer Programme, attended the signing.
Research Advances
The Pharmacology Area of the UIC Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, directed by Dr. Núria Casals, began in 1999 with a scientific collaboration with Ferrer to study the action mechanism of different drugs. The collaboration has continued for 13 years.
From 1999 to 2002, the protective effects of the drug Citicolina on neuronal cell death was studied. From 2003 to 2006, the effect of the drug Nucleo CMP-Forte on nerve cells was studied. Since 2007, the group has been researching the effect of the same drug on Schwann cells in the treatment of peripheral neuropathies and the regeneration of the peripheral nervous system. The group is currently studying the neuronal regeneration effect of the drug Nucleo CMP-Forte in co-cultures of Schwann cells and neurons.
The research group led by Dr. Núria Casals has published four articles in international journals about their research into the effects of Nucleo CMP Forte.
