Experimental Treatments for Parkinson's Disease

ABBV-951 is an experimental subcutaneous being developed as a treatment for motor fluctuations in advanced Parkinson’s disease. It is expected to deliver a more consistent dose of levodopa to the brain and start working faster than the oral form of the medication, thereby reducing off time.

Affitope PD01A is an experimental vaccine being developed to treat Parkinson’s. It works by prompting a patient’s immune system to produce antibodies against a man-made peptide that is very similar to alpha-synuclein. It has completed testing in Phase 1 trials.

CNM-Au8 is an investigational therapy being developed for Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions. It is a concentrated suspension of gold nanocrystals with characteristics that may help protect dopaminergic neurons and improve their survival. A Phase 2 trial is currently recruiting Parkinson’s patients.

IPX203 is an experimental extended-release oral formulation of carbidopa and levodopa designed to ease symptoms in people with Parkinson’s disease. It is designed to maintain steady levels of the molecules in the body and improve absorption efficacy. This potential therapy was recently in Phase 2 and 3 trials and is being applied for approval.

ND0612 is an experimental liquid formulation of levodopa and carbidopa aimed at reducing motor complications, such as involuntary shaking, slowness of movement, or muscle stiffness, in advanced Parkinson’s disease patients. It is designed to be continuously administered beneath the skin. The potential therapy is currently in Phase 2 trials.

Nilotinib is approved under the brand name Tasigna to treat chronic myeloid leukemia, a cancer of the blood. In Parkinson’s disease, nilotinib also may work to eliminate toxic proteins that build in the brain by activating a mechanism in brain cells that serves as a sort of garbage disposal unit. It is being tested in Phase 2 trials.

NPT520-34 is an experimental small-molecule therapy that has been shown to reduce neuroinflammation in preclinical studies of Parkinson’s disease. It is administered orally and is small enough to be able to cross the blood-brain barrier, a highly selective, semipermeable membrane that isolates the brain from the blood circulating in the body. The potential therapy is currently in Phase 1 testing.

NTCELL is an investigative disease-modifying therapy for Parkinson’s consists of a microcapsule implanted into a damaged site within the brain. Preclinical studies of NTCELL have shown that it has the capacity to regenerate damaged tissue and restore nerve cell function in animal models of Parkinson’s. It was last studied in a Phase 2 trial, but its current status is unknown.

PF-05251749 is an experimental oral therapy for “sundowning” in Alzheimer’s disease and irregular sleep-wake rhythm disorder in Parkinson’s disease. PF-05251749 is a small molecule that inhibits CK1E, a key enzyme involved in regulating circadian rhythms, preventing “nighttime” proteins from being produced during the day. It has been studied in Phase 1 trials in healthy volunteers.

PRX002 (also known as RG7935) is an investigational monoclonal antibody being developed to slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease. It is a type of disease-modifying immunotherapy aimed at harness the body’s immune system to remove the toxic alpha-synuclein — possibly preventing or slowing alpha-synuclein-related neurodegeneration. It is currently in Phase 2 trials.

SPN-830 (apomorphine infusion device) is an experimental under-the-skin, or subcutaneous, continuous infusion therapy for reducing motor fluctuations that emerge between doses of standard levodopa-based treatment in people with Parkinson’s disease. It was recently in two Phase 3 trials.

VY-AADC is a gene therapy being developed for Parkinson’s disease. It is aimed at increasing the patient’s ability to produce dopamine, a signaling molecule that helps regulate movement and emotional responses, which improves motor function and reduces the need for other Parkinson’s medications. The potential therapy is being tested in Phase 2 trials.