Centogene reaches 12,500 patient milestone in world’s largest observational study on Parkinson’s disease genetics

October 2022

Centogene N.V. announced reaching a significant milestone with the recruitment and genetic testing of 12,500 participants in the Rostock International Parkinson’s Disease (ROPAD) Study. With more than 120 study sites around the world, Centogene is leading the largest study of its kind – a global observational study focused on the role of genetics in Parkinson’s disease (PD). As part of the ROPAD study, Centogene utilizes CentoCard®, its proprietary, CE-marked dried blood spot collection kit in combination with state-of-the-art sequencing technologies to develop a first-in-class Parkinson’s Disease Panel that is being used to screen participants for mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) as well as other PD-associated genes. Centogene’s Parkinson’s Disease Panel has been widely adopted by clinicians, and its use could provide vital information to allow more precise therapeutic development in the future. 

Having met the initial milestone of recruiting and performing genetic testing of 10,000 participants in March 2021, Centogene and Denali Therapeutics extended their partnership to recruit and test an additional 2,500 patients. In 2018, Centogene entered a strategic collaboration with Denali Therapeutics for the targeted global identification of PD patients with mutations in the LRRK2 gene. The LRRK2 gene is one of the most common mutated genes in familial PD.

Patients enrolled in ROPAD and identified with a LRRK2 mutation may be eligible for participation in future therapeutic clinical studies. Centogene conducts clinical studies with biopharma partners around the world, such as Denali Therapeutics who are currently evaluating the efficacy and safety of a small molecule, LRRK2 inhibitor, which aims to slow the progression of PD in individuals with a pathogenic mutation in LRRK2 in the Lighthouse study. More information about Lighthouse (NCT05418673) can be found here. 

Kim Stratton, CEO of Centogene said: “Parkinson’s disease is a devastating neurodegenerative disease, and there is a significant medical need to truly unveil deeper data on PD genetics to accelerate diagnosis and personalized Parkinson’s treatments. In reaching such a pivotal milestone in our Parkinson’s disease study, we have been able to unlock significant insights into the genetic factors – which we believe together with partners, such as Denali with their therapeutics targeting LRRK2, will accelerate the development of potentially life-saving therapeutics for many PD patients around the world.”

Carole Ho, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Denali said: “More than 10 million people worldwide are affected by Parkinson’s disease, many of which are tied to genetic factors, like LRRK2. In combining forces with CENTOGENE, we have unlocked significant insights and are committed to working together towards a unified goal of accelerating the development of potentially life-saving therapeutics for PD patients around the world.”

The link to the article can be found here.