Mitochondrial therapeutics company Vincere Biosciences has been awarded $5 million from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research to advance its lead Parkinson’s program toward clinical trials. The funding will support IND-enabling studies for Vincere’s USP30 inhibitor and biomarker strategy, paving the way for a planned Phase 1 trial in 2026.

Vincere’s small-molecule therapeutics aim to restore mitophagy, the process by which cells clear damaged mitochondria,  mechanism disrupted in Parkinson’s and other age-related diseases. The USP30 inhibitor works by blocking a mitochondrial enzyme that slows this clean-up process, helping to restore cellular energy balance.

“This grant is a major step toward improving mitochondrial health in Parkinson’s disease and aging,” said CEO Spring Behrouz. “We’re excited to move our program closer to the clinic and continue advancing therapies that target the root causes of cellular dysfunction.”

The award comes as the field of mitochondrial medicine gains momentum, highlighted by earlier FDA approval of Forzinity for Barth syndrome, demonstrating the therapeutic potential of targeting mitochondrial pathways.