Overview
- Biogen and Denali said they will stop developing BIIB122 for idiopathic Parkinson’s after the phase 2b Luma study showed no slowing of disease versus placebo on MDS‑UPDRS scores.
- The Luma trial enrolled 648 people with early‑stage Parkinson’s who received the drug or placebo for at least 48 weeks and up to 144 weeks, and secondary endpoints also showed no benefit.
- BIIB122 is an investigational inhibitor of the LRRK2 enzyme, a target chosen to try to slow Parkinson’s progression rather than only treat symptoms.
- The program carried large financial commitments from Biogen to Denali dating to a 2020 licensing deal that included substantial upfront and equity payments and potential milestone fees.
- Denali will continue an independent, genotype‑guided phase 2a Beacon study in patients with pathogenic LRRK2 variants and expects readout in the first half of 2027, which will test whether a genetically selected group can still benefit.