Category Archives: Parkinson’s Treatment

SANTA ANA, CA--(Marketwire - Feb 26, 2013) - Io Therapeutics, Inc. announced today the initiation of a collaboration with The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF) to evaluate the Company's experimental Retinoid X Receptor (RXR) agonist compound IRX4204 as a potential treatment for Parkinson's disease.The collaboration, funded by MJFF, will examine the effects of IRX4204 in preclinical models of Parkinson's disease. If the results are promising, these preclinical studies could lead to the initiation of a clinical trial of IRX4204 in patients with Parkinson's disease. About RXR in Parkinson's disease and IRX4204 "It was reported in the medical literature nearly a decade ago that signaling through RXR pathways promotes survival of dopaminergic neurons, the primary type of cell being destroyed in Parkinson's disease," said Dr. Rosh Chandraratna, Chief Scientific Officer of Io Therapeutics.Dr. Chandraratna continued, "IRX4204 is a first-in-class highly potent and specific agonist of RXR.We are hopeful that it will prove useful for treating Parkinson's disease, perhaps even for slowing its progression." Dr. Martin E. Sanders, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Io Therapeutics, said, "IRX4204 has been well tolerated in clinical trials in patients with various cancers.Io Therapeutics is now expanding the development program for IRX4204 … Continue reading →

BIOTIE THERAPIES CORP. STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 26 February 2013 at 7:00 p.m. Biotie: UCB to license worldwide rights to tozadenant in Parkinson`s disease from Biotie Novel product in development for the treatment of people living with Parkinson`s disease Biotie receives USD 20 million license fee payment Original agreement modified: Biotie to conduct phase 3 development Biotie and UCB announced today that UCB has licensed worldwide exclusive rights to Biotie`s tozadenant (SYN115), a selective inhibitor of the adenosine 2a receptor, currently in development for the treatment of Parkinson`s disease. As a result, Biotie will receive a one-time fee payment of USD 20 million from UCB. In addition, the parties have amended their original license agreement, such that Biotie will now conduct phase 3 development of tozadenant in return for additional payments from UCB relating to defined development, regulatory and commercialization milestones. "UCB is committed to improving the lives of people with Parkinson`s disease and currently provides Neupro a transdermal dopamine agonist for the symptomatic treatment of all stages of idiopathic Parkinson`s disease," said Professor Dr Iris Loew-Friedrich, Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President UCB. "Biotie is a valuable partner and the decision to in-license follows the positive top-line results of … Continue reading →

As people around the world live longer, maladies of old age are becoming more common. And that has doctors searching for ways to treat or prevent diseases like Parkinson's...a degenerative brain condition that usually develops after age 50, and that's known for its disabling physical tremors. Medications today can treat the symptoms of Parkinson's, but researchers are hopeful that soon, there will be a way to halt its devastating advance. Sarah Taylor knew something was very wrong, but she never dreamed she had Parkinson's disease. "It was a shock. But it was a relief when I found out what was wrong with me, though," she recalled. Five years ago, when Taylor came to Medstar Washington Hospital Center for treatment, she could hardly move. "When I first came here, it was awful. It was terrible. I couldn't stand up. I couldn't get up out of the chair. I was struggling," she stated. Now she has only mild symptoms. She credits her improvement to following Dr. Mark Lin's advice -- from daily exercise to taking medications on a precise schedule. Parkinson's disease develops when cells that make dopamine, a brain chemical that controls muscle movement, mysteriously die off. Scientists believe genetics could … Continue reading →

To view our videos, you need to enable JavaScript. Learn how. install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now. Then come back here and refresh the page. Parkinson's disease is a movement disorder, and over the last three decades the treatment options were limited - until now. The symptoms of Parkinson's disease include tremors. Medication is used, but long-term can make the tremors worse. Diagnosing Parkinson's can be done with a brain scan which measures the level of dopamine. Neurologist Dr. Julie Pilitsis said, "When people become symptomatic with Parkinson's, dopamine levels are about 80 percent reduced." After medications are no longer effective, some patients are candidates for brain surgery where a deep brain stimulator is implanted. "Make a small whole in the brain about the size of nickel," said Dr. Pilitsis. "We open up the covering of the brain. We use a special micro-electrode tip which is the finest thread in diameter." The micro-electrode is then fed deep through the brain to the area which, when stimulated, stops tremors. When performing surgery on the brain, you need a steady hand, and in this surgery, you need a good ear. As she passes the electrode through the neurons within the … Continue reading →

The Parkinson's Database Coalition has released an anonymous survey for Parkinson's patients to complete online. The data collected will provide researchers and doctors with important information to aid in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, finding the cause and possibly a cure for this disease. Yelm, Wa (PRWEB) February 20, 2013 The survey is for Parkinsons patients or caregivers to complete. It covers several detailed aspects not normally acquired in a clinical setting such as certain demographics, diet, types of treatments, work and chemical exposure. The survey has 115 questions. It will be supplemented by additional surveys which will generate more specific questions based on the data received. Once sufficient data is accumulated from the survey it will become available to researchers and physicians in a searchable database to aid in faster diagnosis, prevention, better treatment options and hopefully a cure. The focus of this survey is to isolate specific causes of Parkinsons disease based on accumulation of a large amount of data received directly from the patients themselves. Because the survey is anonymous it will allow Patients to retain privacy while providing valuable data for research. There are forums available with an anonymous Parkinsons Database Coalition I.D. to allow communications between the … Continue reading →

PHOENIX, Feb. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --The Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center in Phoenix has launched a new clinic aimed at streamlining the process for the growing number of patients who are potential candidates for Deep Brain Stimulation. Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a surgical treatment involving the implantation of a medical device called a "brain pacemaker," which sends electrical impulses to specific parts of the brain. DBS in select brain regions has provided remarkable therapeutic benefits for otherwise treatment-resistant movement and affective disorders such as Parkinson's disease, tremor and dystonia. The new clinic, which is part of the Ali center at the Barrow Neurological Institute, offers patients a comprehensive resource for education, medical evaluation, psychological assessment, imaging, surgery and post surgical monitoring. The one-day a week clinic was launched in July to serve the increasing numbers of patients who travel from all over the nation for DBS evaluation and surgery. "We have dramatically reduced the waiting and evaluation time for patients," says Rohit Dhall, MD, who heads the clinic. "In the past, waiting for evaluation and approval for this treatment could be frustrating for patients. So, we have added new resources to the Ali center and established this clinic. It has … Continue reading →

Cambridge News Follow us on Wednesday 20 Feb 2013 4:53 AM Michael J Fox A major disappointment has been announced with the failure of Cogane as a drug to treat Parkinsons disease. Millions of pounds have gone into the development of the new treatment by Huntingdon-based Phytopharm, but results from a clinical trial have shown there was no improvement in the condition of Parkinsons patients taking part. There was great hope that Cogane could open a new treatment path for the disease, and early work on the drug was funded by The Michael J Fox Foundation, set up by the actor for Parkinsons research. Roger Hickling, research and development director, told the News that the company would now have to take a long hard look at Cogane, which is also being developed to treat both Alzheimers and motor neurone diseases, although Parkinsons was the programme which was furthest ahead. It is hugely disappointing, he said, and the proof of possibility is going to be a much higher hurdle to cross for Alzheimers and motor neurone disease now that Cogane has failed in Parkinsons. He added that the Parkinsons programme was the companys major asset. Phytopharm is based on the Ermine … Continue reading →

Cambridge News Follow us on Tuesday 19 Feb 2013 3:06 AM A major disappointment has been announced today with the failure of Cogane as a drug to treat Parkinsons disease. Millions of pounds have gone into the development of the new treatment by Huntingdon-based Phytopharm, but results from a clinical trial have shown there was no improvement in the condition of Parkinsons patients taking part. There was great hope that Cogane could open a new treatment path for the disease, and early work on the drug was funded by The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinsons research. Roger Hickling, research and development director, told the News that the company would now have to take a long hard look at Cogane, which is also being developed to treat Alzheimers and motor neurone diseases, although Parkinsons was the programme furthest ahead. It is hugely disappointing, he said, and the proof of possibility is going to be a much higher hurdle to cross for Alzheimers and motor neurone disease now that Cogane has failed in Parkinsons. He added that the Parkinsons programme was the companys major asset. Phytopharm is based on the Ermine Business Park and employs 13 people. Cambridge Newspapers Ltd 2013 … Continue reading →

Deep brain stimulation using an electrical implant works better than drugs alone in earlier stages of disease Quality of life can improve by up to 26 per cent after op Speech and walking improved by average of 30 per cent By Jenny Hope PUBLISHED: 05:28 EST, 18 February 2013 | UPDATED: 05:41 EST, 18 February 2013 A new highly accurate form of brain surgery could bring hope to thousands of Parkinson's sufferers. A two-year trial shows deep brain stimulation using an electrical implant works better than drugs alone at a much earlier stage in the disease than previously found. There was a 26 per cent improvement in the quality of life for patients after surgery, compared with no improvement for those on drugs alone. Those who had the brain surgery took less medication and had fewer drug-related complications Coordination improved by 50 per cent, while activities such as speech, handwriting, dressing and walking improved by 30 per cent for those having the operation. They also took less medication and had fewer drug-related complications, while those on drugs alone had to increase the dose. The latest trial involving 251 patients in France and Germany gave deep brain stimulation to people who … Continue reading →

LONDON (ShareCast) - Shares in development stage pharmaceutical group Phytopharm (Other OTC: PHYOF - news) fell sharply on Monday after the company reported that a drug it has been developing to treat Parkinson's disease did not produce any improvements in patients' symptoms during a study. The company, which has been developing a treatment trademarked 'Cogane', published the results of a study of the drug on unmedicated patients with early stage Parkinson's disease. Analysis of the headline results indicated that Cogane had "no beneficial effects on patients' symptoms measured by the primary or secondary endpoints in the study", Phtopharm reported. More than 400 subjects with early-stage Parkinson's disease were randomly allocated to receive Cogane or a placebo which was taken orally once a day for up to 28 weeks. Three different dosages of Cogane were trialled on patients and measurements were taken during the study to determine the efficacy, safety and tolerability of each dose of Cogane. The company reported: "No statistically significant effects or trends towards improvement were seen in any of these endpoints. Analysis of the results indicates that the study was well conducted and gave a clear, albeit negative result." Professor C Warren Olanow, Professor of Neurology and … Continue reading →