Category Archives: Parkinson’s Treatment

IMAGE:This is Filip Bergquist from the Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg. view more Credit: University of Gothenburg Parkinson's disease is a slowly degenerative neurological disease that is expressed as impaired motor control, tremors, stiffness and, in later stages, problems with balance. The symptoms are caused by a lack of the signal substance dopamine and is traditionally treated with medication. However, balance problems do usually not improve much with pharmacological treatment. Change brain activity In earlier experiments on rats, researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy showed that noisy electric stimulation of the balance organs can be used to change the activity of the brain, thereby balancing the effects of dopamine shortage and improve the animals' motor skills and balance. The researchers have now tested the same method on ten Swedish Parkinson's patients. Improved balance The patients were studied in both medicated and unmedicated states. On one day, the patients received an active noise stimulation and on another day inactive treatment, blinded to which day the current was active. The experiments show that the active noise stimulation improved both the patients' balance and the combined symptoms. "The effect on balance was particularly apparent when the patients were in … Continue reading →

PBR Staff Writer Published 19 January 2015 US-based Neuropore Therapies has entered into a nagreement with Belgian biopharmaceutical firm UCB to develop and commercialize therapeutic products to slow the progression of Parkinsons disease (PD) and related disorders. As part of the deal, UCB will receive the world-wide exclusive license to develop and commercialize Neuropore's new small molecule NPT200-11in all indications. NPT200-11 that targets pathogenic alpha-synuclein which is currently in preclinical development and the companies will work together to complete non-clinical studies, with the first Phase I trial scheduled to be started in 2015. UCB New Medicines president Ismail Kola said: "Parkinson's disease is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder that results in disruption of normal movement and motor function, as well as cognitive and other life-altering symptoms. "People living with Parkinson's disease need better treatment options, especially as there is currently no approved treatment that addresses a fundamental pathological mechanism in Parkinson's disease. "With Neuropore's NPT200-11, we have the opportunity to develop a disease modifying treatment option for patients with Parkinson's disease and other synucleinopathies." The deal will see an initial upfront payment of $20m made to Neuropore, which is also entitled to potential development, regulatory and sales-based milestones payments, of up … Continue reading →

Parkinson's disease affects about six million people worldwide and does not have a cure. Still, researchers are learning more and more about the disease every day. Now, an old drug may offer patients new hope. Dr. David Higgins lives a busy and active life but, a few years ago, some mysterious symptoms threatened to slow him down. "I was having trouble swimming and I was having trouble running, says Higgins. Stiffness, soreness, lack of control." David was diagnosed with Parkinsons, a disease that affects movement. "It does not make me feel good about the future, says Higgins. However, neurologist Irene Litvan says the future is looking brighter for people like Higgins. Litvan is studying a new therapy for Parkinsons that is already being used to treat high blood pressure. The good thing is that multiple people have taken it, says Litvan. See more here: More effective treatments on the horizon for Parkinson's patients … Continue reading →

FDA Approves New Parkinson's Treatment http://www.dailyrx.com/duopa-first-parkinson-disease-treatment-provide-16-hours-continuous-treatment The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new treatment for Parkinson's... By: dailyRx … Continue reading →

Published 13 January 2015 The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved AbbVie's DUOPA (carbidopa and levodopa) enteral suspension for the treatment of motor fluctuations for people with advanced Parkinson's disease. DUOPA is administered using a small, portable infusion pump that delivers carbidopa and levodopa directly into the small intestine for 16 continuous hours via a procedurally-placed tube. DUOPA was approved by the FDA as an orphan drug, a designation granted to products intended for the treatment of rare diseases or conditions affecting fewer than 200,000 patients in the U.S. "There is unmet need for treatment options for patients with advanced Parkinson's disease. As the disease advances, it can be difficult to control motor features," said C. Warren Olanow, M.D., Professor, Department of Neurology and Department of Neuroscience, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and lead investigator of the DUOPA pivotal trial. "In clinical trials, DUOPA was shown to significantly reduce the amount of off time advanced Parkinson's disease patients experienced." In the advanced stages of Parkinson's disease, patients may begin to experience "off" time, or periods of poor mobility, slowness and stiffness. Additionally, in Parkinson's disease patients, the spontaneous emptying of the stomach becomes delayed and unpredictable, which can … Continue reading →

The US Food and Drug Administration approved AbbVies treatment for Parkinsons disease, three months ahead of the scheduled review date. The treatment, Duopa - a combination of carbidopa and levodopa - is the first to be effective for 16 hours, compared with existing oral formulations that last for up to four hours following a single dose. Duopa, already available in Canada, is administered using a small portable infusion pump that delivers the drug directly to the small intestine. AbbVie shares were up 1 percent in premarket trading. Parkinsons disease is characterized by reduced levels of the hormone dopamine in the brain, which leads to poor mobility, slowness and stiffness. Nearly all patients diagnosed with the disease are treated with levodopa. The effectiveness of oral levodopa, however, is limited by its short half-life. Excessive oral doses often lead to involuntary movements, or dyskinesia. Last week, the FDA approved Impax Laboratoriess Parkinsons drug, Rytary, after rejecting it twice. Other companies developing drugs for the disease include NeuroDerm , Acorda Therapeutics Inc and Cynapsus Therapeutics. Reuters Here is the original post: US FDA approves AbbVies treatment for Parkinsons … Continue reading →

Monday, January 12 14:10:55 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved AbbVie's treatment for Parkinson's disease, three months ahead of the scheduled review date. The treatment, Duopa - a combination of carbidopa and levodopa - is the first to be effective for 16 hours, compared with existing oral formulations that last for up to four hours following a single dose. Duopa, already available in Canada, is administered using a small portable infusion pump that delivers the drug directly to the small intestine. AbbVie shares were up 1 percent in premarket trading. Parkinson's disease is characterized by reduced levels of the hormone dopamine in the brain, which leads to poor mobility, slowness and stiffness. Nearly all patients diagnosed with the disease are treated with levodopa. The effectiveness of oral levodopa, however, is limited by its short half-life. Excessive oral doses often lead to involuntary movements, or dyskinesia. Last week, the FDA approved Impax Laboratories Inc's Parkinson's drug, Rytary, after rejecting it twice. Other companies developing drugs for the disease include NeuroDerm Ltd, Acorda Therapeutics Inc and Cynapsus Therapeutics. About 1 million Americans live with Parkinson's disease - more than the number of people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and Lou … Continue reading →

By RTT News, January 08, 2015, 08:18:00 AM EDT (RTTNews.com) - Impax Pharmaceuticals, a division of Impax Laboratories, Inc. ( IPXL ), said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved RYTARY, an extended-release oral capsule formulation of carbidopa-levodopa, for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, post-encephalitic parkinsonism, and parkinsonism that may follow carbon monoxide intoxication and / or manganese intoxication. RYTARY is not for use in patients using nonselective monoamine oxidase inhibitors inhibitors. RYTARY contains immediate release and extended-release beads, with a specific amount of carbidopa and levodopa in a 1:4 ratio. It provides both initial and extended levodopa plasma concentrations after a single dose. RYTARY may be swallowed whole or, for patients who have trouble swallowing, the capsule may be opened and the beads sprinkled on applesauce and consumed immediately. Impax expects the four strengths of RYTARY, 23.75mg/95mg, 36.25mg/145mg, 48.75mg/195mg, and 61.25mg/245mg (carbidopa/levodopa) to be available for commercial distribution in February. The stock surged 12 percent in pre-market activity to $34.70. For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com http://www.rttnews.com Continued here: Impax Wins FDA Nod For RYTARY ER Capsules For Treatment Of Parkinson''s Disease … Continue reading →

Seal Beach, Laguna Hills, and Lake Forest, California (PRWEB) January 05, 2015 The Irvine Stem Cell Treatment Center announces a series of free public seminars on the use of adult stem cells for various degenerative and inflammatory conditions. They will be provided by Dr. Thomas A. Gionis, Surgeon-in-Chief. The seminars will be held on Sunday, January 11, 2015, at 2:30pm and 4:30pm at Marie Callenders Grill, 12489 Seal Beach Blvd., Seal Beach, CA 90740; Tuesday, January 13, 2015, at 2:00pm and 4:00pm at Pollys Pies, 23701 Moulton Parkway, Laguna Hills, CA 92653; Friday, January 16, 2015, at 1:30pm and 3:30pm at Marie Callenders Grill, 12489 Seal Beach Blvd., Seal Beach, CA 90740; Saturday, January 17, 2015, at 2:30pm and 4:30pm at Dennys Restaurant, 23515 El Toro Road, Lake Forest, CA 92630. Please RSVP at (949) 679-3889. The Irvine Stem Cell Treatment Center, along with sister affiliates, the Miami Stem Cell Treatment Center and the Manhattan Regenerative Medicine Medical Group, abide by investigational protocols using adult adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) which can be deployed to improve patients quality of life for a number of chronic, degenerative and inflammatory conditions and diseases. ADSCs are taken from the patients own adipose (fat) … Continue reading →

January 2, 2015 Credit: Thinkstock Chuck Bednar for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online Even if it doesnt reduce their risk of falling, Parkinsons disease patients could benefit in other ways from balance and leg-strengthening exercises, according to research published Wednesday in the online edition of the American Academy of Neurology journal Neurology. Such exercises could improve those individuals overall balance, ability to move around and quality of life, Dr. Colleen G. Canning of the University of Sydney and her colleagues found in a randomized, controlled trial involving 231 Parkinsons patients. As part of the study, each of those patients either received their usual treatment or participated in an exercise program of 40 to 60 minutes of balance and leg exercises three times per week over a period of six months. The exercise program was prescribed and monitored by a physical therapist and an average of 13 percent of them were supervised by a physical therapist. According to the Parkinsons Disease Foundation, the condition is a chronic and progressive movement disorder, meaning that symptoms will become worse over time. Nearly one million Americans currently live with the disease, whose cause is unknown. Presently, there is no cure for Parkinsons, though medication and … Continue reading →