Servier – Our commitment to neuroscience

neuroscience

A commitment to satisfy a major medical need

Neurodegenerative diseases are chronic pathologies that progress toward a total loss of autonomy. One third of the population in Europe—179 million people—are affected by at least one brain condition. To address the major and growing need, we are committed to neuroscience, particularly neuroinflammation.

There are many challenges we need to tackle.

Going the extra mile to develop new treatments

We focus our research and development efforts on developing new medicines that slow the progression of rare diseases or diseases with a genetic origin that affect sub-populations of patients and are caused by abnormal proteins (often due to genetic mutation).

Learn more about our ambition in research and development

This is the case for some movement disorders, such as certain forms of Parkinson’s disease, as well as rare and genetic neurodegenerative diseases, such as spinocerebellar ataxia or hereditary forms of motor neuron disease.

These conditions are all progressive, causing severe disability within a variable timeframe and ultimately death. There is currently no treatment to change their course.

How we combat Parkinson’s disease

We focus our research on:

Antisense oligonucleotides: short, chemically modified synthetic RNA sequences that target RNA to selectively alter the production of certain proteins.
Small molecules: Servier develops innovative small molecules that inhibit the translation of RNA or reduce the activity of pathological proteins.
Monoclonal antibodies: These are therapeutic antibodies, specifically selected and designed to bind to and modify the activity of targets known to be involved in disease.

Focus

Our neuroscience research is oriented toward therapies that target abnormal proteins or their RNA to modulate the production or activity of these proteins and help them resume normal function.

Monoclonal antibodies represent one of the most important global pharmacological advances of the past two decades. What are they exactly, and what roles do they play? Find out some answers in our insight.

Read the insight

Learn more about our neuroscience development projects

See the pipeline

By patients’ side

Depression

We have been working with the patient organization GAMIAN-Europe for many years. In 2022, we organized two patient workshops, which enabled us to collaboratively produce two brochures on the symptoms of depression and how to treat the condition.

Anxiety symptoms in depression explains anxiety and offers advice to help people better cope with this symptom.
Managing depression: A 3-step approach presents the three key steps in dealing with depression.

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Insight: Depression, the leading cause of disability worldwide

Often misdiagnosed, depression is a disorder that can have many causes, and there is a lot we still do not understand.

Read the insight

Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease, the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s disease

Throughout the world, Parkinson’s disease is on the rise, in particular as a result of the ageing population. That is because age is the main risk factor for the condition, which mainly causes trouble moving or walking.

Read the insight