Proteina signs 1st pharma deal in partnership with a Parkinson’s foundation network
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Korean biotechnology group Proteina has leveraged its research alliance with the Michael J. Fox Foundation to sign its first commercial analytical service contract with a major US pharmaceutical firm, deploying its unique protein-protein interaction (PPI) biomarkers to quantify neuroinflammation changes.
Korean protein-protein interaction (PPI) analytics company Proteina said Monday it has signed an analytical service agreement with a U.S. multinational pharmaceutical company to apply PPI-based biomarkers in the preclinical development of a neurodegenerative disease drug candidate.
The U.S. partner, which Proteina identified only as “Company C” for contractual reasons, will use Proteina’s innate immune protein complex biomarkers to measure whether neuroinflammation declines following drug administration in preclinical studies, with results intended to inform subsequent clinical trial design. The deal is the first commercial contract to emerge from Proteina’s research partnership with the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF), the largest Parkinson’s disease research foundation in the United States, signed in November 2025, Proteina said.
Unlocking Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) Data
Proteina’s platform selectively measures trace amounts of activated innate immune protein complexes in biological samples. Unlike conventional assays that quantify protein concentration, the technology analyzes the functional processes of protein binding and signal generation, which the company says addresses a gap in existing measurement tools, according to the news release.
The innate immune complex, a product of PPI that can trigger immune hyperactivation, is a central driver of neuroinflammation in the brain. Drug developers targeting this mechanism have struggled to find biomarkers that confirm whether a treatment is actually suppressing inflammatory pathways in patients, Proteina said. Therapies directed at the innate immune system are in development across multiple indications beyond neurodegeneration, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), rheumatoid arthritis, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.
“Our platform has the potential to serve as a universal biomarker spanning Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease and beyond,” a Proteina spokesperson said, adding that the company is also exploring opportunities to expand the technology into companion diagnostics. Proteina said the MJFF collaboration and the latest commercial deal are expected to open additional analytical agreements with innate immune-targeting drug developers globally.
Founded in 2015 as a faculty startup from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Proteina has previously signed clinical analytical service agreements with multiple global pharmaceutical companies. The company is attending the BIO International Convention 2026, which runs Monday through Thursday.
