Patricia Inácio, PhD, science writer —

The first patient with early Parkinson’s disease has been dosed in Ventyx Biosciences‘ Phase 2a clinical trial of Parkinson’s therapy VTX3232, an oral medication designed to reduce inflammation by blocking the activity of the NLRP3 protein. The trial is still recruiting patients at its single site in…

Regeneron has joined the data syndication program for Koneksa‘s LEARNS study that’s assessing the potential of digital biomarkers for measuring the progression of Parkinson’s disease. The program enables Regeneron to gain immediate and continuous access to data and results as the trial progresses, which may accelerate the…

Understanding and identifying epigenetic changes — those that affect gene activity without altering a gene’s DNA sequence — in blood samples from people with Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions may help assess the risk of dementia, two independent studies suggest. In one study, changes in DNA methylation, one…

A Phase 1 trial of ALX-001, an investigational therapy for neurodegenerative conditions, has dosed the first patient with Parkinson’s disease. The clinical trial (NCT06309147) is assessing the safety of Allyx Therapeutics‘ ALX-001 versus a placebo when given twice a day at either 50 mg or 100 mg for…

Inoviq’s Neuro-Net technology can aid in diagnosing Parkinson’s disease at early stages, with it having effectively isolated and identified brain-released exosomes, small vesicles whose information can act as disease fingerprints, in patients’ blood, the company announced. Measuring known biomarkers of the neurodegenerative disease using this technology enriched their…

The nonprofit SPARK NS has announced the five recipients of the 2024 SPARK NS Parkinson’s Disease Translational Research Program that’s designed to foster the clinical development of promising therapies for Parkinson’s disease. The two-year program provides each scientist with up to $2 million, depending on the achievement…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has agreed on the design of the upcoming Phase 2 SUNRISE-PD clinical trial to test BioVie’s oral candidate bezisterim as a first-line, stand-alone treatment for newly diagnosed Parkinson’s disease patients. Upon a protocol review, the agency recommended including assessments of motor…

The Parkinson’s Foundation has awarded more than $1 million in 92 community-based grants across 40 states in the U.S. to improve the quality of life of people with Parkinson’s disease. This year’s funding, which ranges between $10,000 to $25,000 per organization, was awarded to programs that address local Parkinson’s…

Compounds called polyphenols in the Ecklonia cava seaweed eased motor and nonmotor symptoms in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease, a study reports. Treatment with the polyphenols, which are natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, also prevented the loss of dopamine-producing neurons, a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease. The benefits are…

From Monterey Bay in California to Hanalei Bay in Kauai, Hawaii, Team HPP (Human Powered Potential) has rowed 2,800 miles across the Pacific Ocean and raised $28 million to benefit The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) and its efforts to better treat and cure Parkinson’s disease.