Massachusetts-based biopharmaceutical company Civitas Therapeutics has announced $1 million in continued support from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

The second grant the company has received from MJFF will be used to advance a Phase 2b clinical trial of CVT-301, an inhaled formulation of levodopa (L-dopa) that is being developed as an adjunct therapy to provide rapid and reliable relief from intermittent debilitating motor fluctuations (OFF episodes) affecting a large proportion of Parkinson's patients.

Civitas recently announced positive results from a Phase 2a clinical trial, which provided the basis for dose selection for the Phase 2b trial. The trial, the results of which will be presented at a future scientific meeting, found that CVT-301 administered in the OFF state produced a rapid and durable improvement in motor function in study participants.

"We are encouraged by the progress achieved to date by Civitas in their effort to address the unpredictable and debilitating OFF episodes associated with the variability of oral L-dopa administration," said MJFF vice president of research programs Alison Urkowitz. "We are hopeful that the Civitas therapy can play a key role in addressing this unmet need for Parkinson's patients and are pleased to continue our support of CVT-301 as the therapy undergoes continued human clinical trials."