Patricia Inácio, PhD, science writer —

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted regenerative medicine advanced therapy (RMAT) designation to bemdaneprocel, a cell therapy BlueRock Therapeutics, a subsidiary of Bayer, is developing to treat Parkinson’s disease. RMAT designation is granted to therapies that have shown potential to treat serious or life-threatening…

A first-of-its kind study has identified key genes in the brain that explain why Black Americans have a lower incidence of Parkinson’s disease, but are at heightened risks for other brain disorders, including stroke and Alzheimer’s. “This landmark work enriches our understanding of the role of genetic ancestry in…

Irlab Therapeutics is preparing to start a Phase 1 clinical trial of IRL757, its oral tablet candidate to ease apathy in Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions. The trial, which follows its approval by the Swedish Medical Products Agency, is fully financed by a 20 million SEK (about…

A test known as the alpha-synuclein seed amplification assay, or alphaSyn-SAA, was able to measure the accumulation of alpha-synuclein protein in the blood up to 10 years before a clinical diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, a study reported. These findings support the use of such a blood test “as a…

Researchers have developed analogs of cannabinol (CBN), a lesser-known cannabinoid, that show neuroprotective abilities in lab studies not unlike the effects from the active chemicals in the cannabis plant, which are a benefit in Parkinson’s as well as other neurodegenerative diseases. “Not only does CBN have neuroprotective…

Scientists exploring the potential of machine learning approaches in drug discovery for Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders — focusing on misfolded proteins that are the hallmark of such conditions — found that one such method identified compounds “two orders of magnitude more potent” than ones previously reported, per…

The Parkinson’s Foundation has joined forces with Tasso — a U.S. company that offers a sample collection and logistics platform for clinical trials — to accelerate genetic research into the underpinnings of Parkinson’s disease. The collaboration will harness Tasso’s patient-friendly blood collection technology to acquire small blood…

A three-week ketogenic diet, one low in carbohydrates and high in fat, supplemented with a specific type of fat — called medium chain triglycerides — showed no significant benefits in easing motor symptoms in a small group of people with Parkinson’s disease, a pilot trial has found. Whether this…

A Phase 1/2 clinical trial dubbed ASPIRO that’s testing Aspen Neuroscience’s ANPD001 — a stem cell therapy candidate designed to replace the nerve cells that are lost in Parkinson’s disease — has dosed its first patient. A first transplant was conducted at the Banner-University Medical Center Tucson by…

Levels of two markers of intestinal inflammation — beta-defensin 2 and lactoferrin — were elevated in the stools of Parkinson’s disease patients when compared with healthy adults, and were associated with a likelihood of developing the disease, a study found. Calprotectin, a marker of tissue inflammation, wasn’t found to…