News

Parkinson’s cell therapy bemdaneprocel shortens off time

Adults with Parkinson’s disease treated with the cell therapy bemdaneprocel spent less time in off periods, when symptoms were not adequately controlled despite medication use. That’s according to final published data from the exPDite Phase 1 trial (NCT04802733), which also showed that the cell therapy boosted the time…

1ST Biotherapeutics joins MJFF LRRK2 gene-targeting program

1ST Biotherapeutics said it joined an initiative led by the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) aimed at advancing therapies that target the LRRK2 gene, a key genetic contributor to Parkinson’s disease. The initiative, MJFF’s LRRK2 Investigative Therapeutics Exchange (LITE) program, brings together biotech companies and academic research…

Blood test may detect Parkinson’s in earliest stages: Study

Scientists have developed a blood test to detect Parkinson’s disease in its very early stages, before a person experiences the first symptoms that would normally prompt a Parkinson’s diagnosis, a study showed. After identifying that people with Parkinson’s have alterations in two types of transfer RNA fragments (tRFs),…

Immune suppression proposed as way to slow Parkinson’s progression

Suppressing the immune system to reduce brain inflammation, a known contributor to Parkinson’s disease progression, may offer a promising new strategy for slowing the disease, early trial results suggest. Specifically, azathioprine, a commonly used drug that suppresses immune activity, reduced motor symptoms and improved cognitive function in people…