Forest Ray PhD,  —

Alkahest announced the dosing of a first patient in the Phase 2 trial for its Parkinson’s therapy AKST4290, an oral tablet aiming to ease the inflammation that can aggravate disease symptoms. The efficacy and safety trial, called AKST4290-211 or TEAL (2019-001657-42), will measure AKST4290’s benefits in motor function and…

Bone marrow stem cells treated with fasudil and administered via the nose (intranasal) to mice in a model of Parkinson’s disease led to evidence of better motor abilities and a reduced of dopaminergic neurons,  a recent study from China reports. These results suggest that fasudil’s use and intranasal delivery…

The number of dopamine-producing (dopaminergic) neurons at birth could influence a person’s lifetime risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, according to a group of experts. Because these nerve cells die over the course of the disease, having fewer of them to begin with could translate to a higher risk, the…

A common gut bacteria called Bacilus subtilis (B. subtilis), which aids in digestion, shows the potential to counteract the misfolded alpha-synuclein protein central to Parkinson’s disease, according to a new study. B. subtilis, a so-called “good” bacteria, slowed the buildup of this protein in the nerve cells…

Cerevel Therapeutics announced its launch of a series of Phase 3 clinical trials to evaluate its investigational therapy tavapadon, designed to improve motor function in people with Parkinson’s disease. The company will conduct three 27-week trials to evaluate tavapadon’s efficacy, safety, and tolerability in fixed doses —…

Affiris is preparing for a Phase 2 clinical trial to test Affitope (PD01A), an experimental medicine that, if successful, could lead to a vaccine against  Parkinson’s disease. Affitope triggers the production of antibodies — molecules that recognize specific targets — against alpha-synuclein, a protein found in the…

Two Parkinson’s patients treated with AXO-Lenti-PD, an investigative gene therapy, in an ongoing clinical trial continue to show improvement 12 months later, Axovant, the therapy’s developer, said in a release. These findings at one year after treatment are important because this timepoint allows for a better assessment…

Medications used to manage impulse control disorders may not help Parkinson’s disease patients taking Mirapex (pramipexole) and Requip (ropinirole), and may even worsen their episodes, according to new research. The study, titled “What drugs modify the risk of iatrogenic impulse-control disorders…

While excess iron in the brain often accompanies Parkinson’s disease, it remains unknown whether the iron overload actually causes the neurodegenerative disorder or is merely a product of it. New research now sheds greater light on the role that iron plays in the development of a Parkinson’s…

Dosing has begun for healthy volunteers in a Phase 1 clinical trial of AL101, which has the potential to treat neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s, Alector recently announced. The randomized, placebo-controlled trial (NCT04111666) is testing the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (how the compound moves throughout the body), and pharmacodynamics…