José Lopes, PhD, managing science editor —

Sustained release formulation of pramipexole (Mirapex, Boehringer Ingelheim) outperforms its immediate release alternative to treat sleep disturbances in advanced Parkinson’s patients, a new study suggests. The research, “Comparison of nocturnal symptoms in advanced Parkinson’s disease patients with sleep disturbances: pramipexole sustained release versus immediate release formulations,” was…

Prana Biotechnology’s investigational compound PBT434 prevented neuronal loss and improved motor function in an animal model of multiple system atrophy (MSA), a condition that shares many of Parkinson’s motor symptoms, according to preclinical data. MSA is a progressive disorder affecting both involuntary functions, such as blood pressure,…

Neupro patches (rotigotine) have been approved in China for treating symptoms of early-stage idiopathic (of unknown cause) Parkinson’s disease as a stand-alone therapy or in combination with levodopa. Patients may benefit from this treatment strategy over the course of the disease, through to late stages, when levodopa’s benefit wears off or becomes…

Herantis Pharma is launching a development program for non-invasive cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor (CDNF) as a treatment candidate for patients with Parkinson’s disease, the company recently announced. Currently, the investigational treatment needs to be administered directly into the brain using an implanted delivery system suited for Parkinson’s…

Xeomin (incobotulinumtoxinA) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat adults with chronic sialorrhea, or excessive drooling, a condition often experienced by Parkinson’s disease patients. Merz Neurosciences, a division of Merz North America, announced that its supplemental biologics license application for Xeomin…

An investigative compound similar to those used to treat diabetes was able to slow Parkinson’s progression and ease behavioral symptoms associated with the disease in mouse models. The compound, called NLY01 and developed by scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine, works to protect against the loss of dopaminergic nerve cells —…

Earlier disease onset and involuntary foot muscle contractions may be a consequence of mutations in the GCH1 gene in both Parkinson’s patients and those with dopa-responsive dystonia (DRD), a study reports. These mutations may also explain the lack of problems found with the autonomic nervous system — which controls organs not under…

Visual hallucinations can be common in Parkinson’s patients and others with dementia, but the degree of distress they cause is greatly influenced by the person’s ability to understand and consider them — and have the cognitive resources to do so, a study reports. Likewise, the tailored support given patients needs to…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a once-a-day capsule formulation and a lower tablet strength for Nuplazid (pimavanserin), a treatment for the hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s psychosis. The new formulation — a 34 mg capsule— enables patients to take the recommended oral dose once…

Treatment with Gocovri (amantadine) reduced Parkinson’s dyskinesia — involuntary, jerky movements — and so-called “off” episodes, leading to longer periods of controlling motor symptoms, Phase 3 clinical trial results show. Parkinson’s motor fluctuations (off episodes) occur when the benefits of treatments such as levodopa wear off and symptoms…