Intec Pharma (NSDQ:NTEC) said today that it inked a deal with the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research to support the biopharmaceutical company’s patient recruitment and retention for its pivotal phase III trial. The study will evaluate Intec Pharma’s lead candidate, the “accordion pill” carbidopa/levodopa (AP-CD/LD), as a treatment for patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease. The Israel-based company began enrolling patients in its phase III trial in April 2016.

In 2013, the Michael J. Fox foundation supported Intec Pharma with a $705,000 grant to fund a preclinical evaluation of its oral drug delivery system in Parkinson’s disease.

“We are honored and pleased to collaborate with the foundation on our Phase III trial recruitment activities,” Intec Pharma’s CEO Zeev Weiss said in prepared remarks. “MJFF is one of the most well-respected research organizations dedicated to the development of improved therapies for Parkinson’s patients. The foundation’s long-term experience in the field and close connections with the patient community are especially valuable and will further support and enhance the conduct of our phase III study for the benefit of the entire patient population.”

“Additional options to treat the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s would have a significant impact on the millions living with this disease,” MJFF director of research partnerships Catherine Kopil added. “Leveraging our foundation’s tools and best practices to encourage participant enrollment in Intec Pharma’s AP-CD/LD study will accelerate testing of this potential therapy.”