Category Archives: Parkinson’s Treatment

Need another good reason to go organic? According to data published in the journal Neurology, exposure to weed killer, solvents and pesticides increases peoples risk for Parkinsons disease by 33 to 80 percent, Medical Daily reported. Researchers collected data from 104 studies from around the world to analyze how pesticides, insecticides, weed killers, and many other agricultural chemicals influenced an individuals risk for Parkinsons disease. Though researchers found links between many chemicals and Parkinsons, they found no link between Parkinsons and the chemical dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), which has been banned in the United States for decades, Medical Daily reported. However, people who were exposed to the weed killer paraquat or the fungicides maneb and mancozeb had a two-fold greater risk for contracting the disease. Additionally, researchers showed a direct link between the length of time people were exposed to pesticides and their likelihood of contracting Parkinsons. The data also indicated that agricultural workers had a 33 percent higher risk of developing Parkinsons disease than people who didnt work in agriculture. The study did not distinguish between people who came in contact with pesticides through their skin or through breathing the chemicals. Parkinson's disease is a neurological condition, characterized by a decrease … Continue reading →

Paul Parkinson of Alhambra, was a gunner on a B-24 World War II bomber, whose plane was shot down over Germany and became a prisoner. Parkinson, with a book on the B-24 World War II bomber's role during World War II, Monday, May 12, 2013. (SGVN/Photo by Walt Mancini) ALHAMBRA -- Imprisoned by the Nazis in Stalag 17-B near Krems, Austria for 13 months, Paul Parkinson never thought he'd want to see those barracks again. An Alhambra resident Parkinson, now 89, completed eight missions as a flight maintenance gunner and staff sergeant aboard a B-24. His ninth mission ended in disaster. The bomber was shot down on Easter Sunday 1944 and the crew bailed out over enemy territory. The survivors were taken prisoner and hauled into a prison camp where they remained until they were freed on April 8, 1945. Nearly seven decades later, Parkinson will return to Europe this week for the first time since he left as a free man who weighed just 110 pounds. "I've always wanted to go back and make some kind of contact with the (past)," Parkinson said. "At least it would take a little of the burden off my shoulders. You carry that … Continue reading →

By Tim Brugger | More Articles May 24, 2013 | The phase 3 clinical program for Merck's (NYSE: MRK) new drug preladenant, a receptor antagonist in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, will be discontinued based on a lack of efficacy compared to a placebo, the companyannouncedyesterday. After studying the results of three independent phase 3 clinical trials, Merck has decided to "discontinue the extension phases of these studies and no longer plans to pursue regulatory filings for preladenant," the company said in a statement. In response to the preladenant trial results, Dr. David Michelson, vice president of clinical research, neuroscience, and ophthalmology at Merck research laboratories, said, "Parkinson's disease is very complex, making it difficult to treat patients and develop novel therapeutic approaches." Merck intends to conduct further studies of the preladenant trial's results and will share its data with the scientific community in an effort to find "new approaches to treat this debilitating disease." Visit link: Merck Halts Parkinson's Drug Trials … Continue reading →

May 24, 2013 In Parkinson's disease, the protein "alpha-synuclein" aggregates and accumulates within neurons. Specific areas of the brain become progressively affected as the disease develops and advances. The mechanism underlying this pathological progression is poorly understood but could result from spreading of the protein (or abnormal forms of it) along nerve projections connecting lower to upper brain regions. Scientists at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) in Bonn have developed a novel experimental model that reproduces for the first time this pattern of alpha-synuclein brain spreading and provides important clues on the mechanisms underlying this pathological process. They triggered the production of human alpha-synuclein in the lower rat brain and were able to trace the spreading of this protein toward higher brain regions. The new experimental paradigm could promote the development of ways to halt or slow down disease development in humans. The research team headed by Prof. Donato Di Monte presents these results in the scientific journal EMBO Molecular Medicine. Parkinson's disease is a disorder of the nervous system. It typically manifests itself with motor disturbances, such as an uncontrollable trembling of the limbs, as well as non-motor symptoms, including sleep disorders and depression. At the present, … Continue reading →

Published: 5/25/2013 - Updated: 4 minutes ago NEW FACILITY OFFERS HOPE FOR PARKINSONS PATIENTS BY LORENZO LIGATO BLADE STAFF WRITER Vicki Bolinger was only 47 years old when she was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2002. A retired nurse, she underwent a series of medications and treatments in clinics scattered across Ohio before arriving at the Gardner-McMaster Parkinson Center on the University of Toledo Health Science campus. It was at the center, she said, that she found a "wonderful, dedicated staff and rooms twice as big." Ms. Bolinger, 58, of Marion, Ohio, is one some 1,300 patients who will receive treatment at the new Gardner-McMaster Parkinson Center. Characteristics of Parkinsons disease include shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with walking, balance, and coordination. According to the National Institutes of Health, the brain disorder affects about 500,000 people in the United States. The average age of onset is 60 years. The disease was first described in 1817 by James Parkinson, a British doctor. The nearly 6,000-square-foot center was inaugurated on Apr. 26 after a major six-month renovation project that turned the old medical facility into one of the leading Parkinson's centers in the nation, said Dr. Lawrence Elmer, a professor of neurology at … Continue reading →

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Merck (MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today provided an update on the clinical program for preladenant, Mercks investigational adenosine A2A receptor antagonist for the treatment of Parkinsons disease (PD). An initial review of data from three separate Phase III trials did not provide evidence of efficacy for preladenant compared with placebo. Based on these results, Merck is taking steps to discontinue the extension phases of these studies and no longer plans to pursue regulatory filings for preladenant. The decision to discontinue these studies is not based on any safety finding. The results of these studies will be presented at an upcoming scientific meeting and will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. While these results are disappointing, this program is an important example of Mercks continued commitment to pursue promising science with the goal of bringing forward medicines that address important unmet medical needs, said David Michelson, M.D., vice president, clinical research, Neuroscience and Ophthalmology at Merck Research Laboratories. Parkinsons disease is very complex, making it difficult to treat patients and develop novel therapeutic approaches. We are committed to neuroscience research and will be conducting further analyses of the data … Continue reading →

Merck & Co. (MRK) said it will end development of the experimental drug preladenant for Parkinsons disease because a preliminary review of the data from late-stage clinical trials suggests it doesnt work. The drugmaker said it will stop the extension portions of the trials and no longer plans to file for marketing approval of the medicine. There were two studies that added preladenant to levodopa, the standard treatment for Parkinsons disease, and one that tested it as stand-alone care, Whitehouse Station, New Jersey-based Merck said in a statement. While these results are disappointing, this program is an important example of Mercks continued commitment to pursue promising science with the goal of bringing forward medicines that address important unmet medical needs, said David Michelson, vice president of clinical research in neuroscience at Merck Research Laboratories. The company is committed to working on complex diseases and neuroscience research, he said in a statement. The company will conduct additional analyses of the results and present them at a future medical meeting, he said. Preladenant was forecast to generate $211 million in 2016 and $271 million in 2017, according to the average of three analysts estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Parkinsons is a progressive neurological … Continue reading →

By RTT News, May 24, 2013, 01:43:00 AM EDT (RTTNews.com) - Merck ( MRK ) Thursday announced the discontinuation of the extension phases of its studies on investigational adenosine A2A receptor antagonist for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, as initial review of data from three Phase III trials did not provide evidence of efficacy for preladenant compared with placebo. Issuing an update on the clinical program for preladenant, Merck said it no longer plans to pursue regulatory filings for preladenant. The decision to discontinue is not based on any safety finding. The results of these studies will be presented at an upcoming scientific meeting and will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. The Phase III clinical program for preladenant included three randomized, controlled clinical trials to evaluate safety and efficacy. Two of these studies assessed preladenant when added to levodopa therapy in patients with moderate-to-severe PD. The remaining one assessed preladenant as monotherapy in early PD. David Michelson, vice president, clinical research, Neuroscience and Ophthalmology at Merck Research Laboratories, said, ''While these results are disappointing, this program is an important example of Merck's continued commitment to pursue promising science with the goal of bringing forward medicines that address … Continue reading →

KINGSTON, N.J., May 21, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Parkinson Alliance proudly announced today that the 19th Parkinson's Unity Walk held on Saturday, April 27, 2013 in New York City's Central Park, has thus far raised more than $1.6 million and united more than 10,000 walkers in raising awareness for Parkinson's disease and to support research for better treatments, and hopefully one day a cure. Contributions will continue to be accepted through May 28, 2013. The Parkinson's Unity Walk is the largest awareness and fundraising event for Parkinson's disease research in the United States. For participants, the Parkinson's Unity Walk represented much more than a one-day event. "The Parkinson's Unity Walk is more than a just a walk. It provides an opportunity for thousands of participants to all come together in support of the community. This day is about sharing stories and experiences, learning more about Parkinson's disease and its management and spending time at the booths of leading Parkinson's organizations and companies working on better treatments for people living with or impacted by this disease," said Carol Walton, Chief Executive Officer of The Parkinson Alliance. The Walk kicked off with an inspirational poem from May May Ali, social activist, daughter … Continue reading →

SAN DIEGO, May 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Ceregene, Inc. today announced additional efficacy data from a secondary analysis of its double-blind, randomized, controlled Phase 2b clinical study of CERE-120 (AAV-neurturin). CERE-120 is a gene therapy product designed to deliver the neurotrophic factor neurturin, for Parkinson's disease. This exploratory analysis identified a more robust response to CERE-120 in Parkinson's patients diagnosed within 5 years prior to treatment relative to those diagnosed 10 years or more (p Raymond T. Bartus, Ph.D., executive vice president and chief scientific officer of Ceregene stated: "The concept that earlier-stage patients may respond better to neurotrophic factor therapies such as CERE-120 is consistent with the field's long-standing appreciation for their mechanism of action, as well as more recent information derived from autopsy brain tissue donated by Parkinson's disease patients. While a number of practical considerations will have to be addressed in order to design and execute clinical trials that enroll only early-stage patients, this additional exploratory analysis adds further empirical support that the concept deserves serious consideration." These and other efficacy and safety data related to the CERE-120 program were presented, by invitation, at a symposium at the American Society for Gene and Cell Therapy annual meeting … Continue reading →