Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

Marisa holds a Master of Science in cellular and molecular pathology from the University of Pittsburgh, where she studied novel genetic drivers of ovarian cancer. Her areas of expertise include cancer biology, immunology, and genetics, and she has worked as a science writing and communications intern for the Genetics Society of America.

Articles by Marisa Wexler

Long-term Anavex 2-73 reduced dementia, motor symptoms

One year of treatment with Anavex 2-73 (blarcamesine) safely led to a reduction in symptom severity for 20 people with Parkinson’s disease dementia in an extension study of the Phase 2 ANAVEX 2-73-PDD-001 trial. This finding was in sharp contrast with the worsening of symptoms observed in the months that…

Blocking synuclein nitrase eases paralysis in mouse study

Blocking the activity of the synuclein nitrase enzyme reduced the levels of toxic clumps of the alpha-synuclein protein and lessened paralysis in mouse models of Parkinson’s disease, according to new data from Nitrase Therapeutics. Formation of toxic aggregates of alpha-synuclein is a hallmark of Parkinson’s and “has been…

FDA weighs in on ketamine for levodopa-induced dyskinesia

PharmaTher Holdings has received guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the late-stage clinical development of ketamine for levodopa-induced dyskinesia, or uncontrolled movements, in people with Parkinson’s disease. “We are satisfied with the feedback we received from the Type C meeting with the FDA, which lays…

NLY01 fails to slow motor symptom progression in Phase 2 trial

A Phase 2 clinical trial of Neuraly’s NLY01 failed to show the experimental therapy was superior to a placebo at significantly slowing motor symptom progression in adults with early and untreated Parkinson’s disease. Some promising trends among patients younger than 60 were seen following analyses of the trial’s…

Ban sought for TCE, common chemical likely linked to Parkinson’s

Scientists are calling for a ban on trichloroethylene (TCE), a common and widely used chemical that’s increasingly linked to multiple health problems, including cancer and Parkinson’s disease. “Through a literature review and seven illustrative cases, we postulate that this ubiquitous chemical is contributing to the global rise of PD…

Older adults sought for Smell Test Challenge

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) is calling on adults 60 and older in the U.S. and Canada who do not have Parkinson’s disease to participate in the Smell Test Challenge, which aims to better understand the connection between loss of smell and neurological disease.