New Parkinson’s pill targets movement pathway beyond dopamine treatments
A daily pill called solengepras improved symptoms and daily functioning in a late-stage trial, raising hopes for a new approach to Parkinson’s treatment. It works on a brain movement pathway rather than the dopamine system targeted by most current medicines, which have been central to care for decades.
The 12-week trial involved 341 people, who continued their existing Parkinson’s medicines while receiving one of two doses of solengepras or a placebo. Those on the higher dose had about 37 minutes less daily “off” time than the placebo group and 36 more minutes of “on” time without troublesome involuntary movements. Participants also reported easier everyday activities, less daytime sleepiness and better quality of life; 3.5 per cent stopped treatment because of side effects.
- Solengepras targets a different brain pathway from established Parkinson’s medicines.
- A trial found less daily “off” time with the higher dose.
- Participants reported improvements in daily tasks and quality of life.
New here? Start with this
Parkinson's is a neurological disease affecting movement. Symptoms include tremors, stiffness and difficulty with initiating movement, and it typically worsens over time.
For decades, Parkinson's has been treated primarily with medicines that work on dopamine, a brain chemical involved in controlling movement. However, these treatments often become less effective over time, and many patients experience side effects including involuntary movements.
A new drug called solengepras takes a different approach by targeting a separate brain pathway involved in movement control. This represents a new avenue for treatment that could help patients when existing medicines are no longer sufficient or cause problems.
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Daily Mail as “Daily pill for Parkinson’s disease raises hopes patients could see first major new class of treatment in decades”.