Exercise Breakthroughs, Vaccine Advances, Gene Therapy, and Smartwatch Insights
Hello from another beautiful part of Istanbul. I have been reading over the new updates for Parkinson’s Disease management and I am excited to share with you the latest ones that have caught my eye:
Lifestyle Updates
At-Home Exercise Program for Parkinson’s Patients:
Researchers in Korea have developed an at-home exercise program to help patients with Parkinson’s disease improve motor function and reduce depression. The National Institute of Health of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency confirmed its safety and effectiveness, with over 80% of participants completing more than half of the program. Consistent exercise is essential for its effectiveness.
“We will continue to support the development of technologies needed to improve the quality of life of patients with Parkinson’s disease,” said Hyeon Young Park, director of the National Institute of Health.
To learn more, you can visit their website.
Treatment Updates
Innovations in Parkinson's Disease Treatment:
NeuroDerm, A Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Group Company has announced the results of the Phase 3 BouNDless trial, showing that ND0612, a continuous subcutaneous infusion of levodopa/carbidopa (LD/CD), is superior to oral immediate-release LD/CD in managing motor fluctuations in PD patients. The study revealed that ND0612 significantly increases "ON" time without troublesome dyskinesia and reduces "OFF" time compared to oral LD/CD. With the FDA's decision expected by mid-2024, ND0612 could offer a new, less invasive treatment option for PD patients experiencing motor fluctuations.
"This could represent a paradigm shift in how we manage Parkinson's disease, particularly for those experiencing motor fluctuations with current oral therapies," said Professor Alberto Espay , the trial's Principal U.S. Investigator.
You can visit their publication to learn more.
Research Updates
Gene Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease:
Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. (AskBio)’s investigational gene therapy AB-1005 has been granted fast-track designation by the FDA and innovation passport designation in the UK. These designations aim to accelerate the development and review of therapies designed to treat serious conditions with unmet clinical needs.
AB-1005 is currently being tested in the REGENERATE-PD Phase 2 trial for its safety and efficacy in patients with moderate Parkinson’s experiencing motor fluctuations. This gene therapy uses an AAV2 vector to deliver the GDNF gene to targeted brain regions, aiming to stimulate the production of a protein crucial for the survival and function of dopaminergic neurons, which will increase the dopamine in the brain.
Click here to learn more about this study.
Technology Updates
Smart Sensors for Non-Motor Symptoms:
Researchers at Radboud University Medical Centre Nijmegen, the Netherlands advocate for using smart sensors to measure non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease at home. Symptoms like sleep problems, depressive complaints, and reduced cognitive performance significantly impact the quality of life but receive little attention in research. Smartwatches and other sensors provide reliable results and make it easier for patients to participate in research by reducing the need for hospital visits. Continuous home measurements offer a better picture of the disease’s progression, allowing for more personalized treatment.
In the hospital we take a photo of the patient, as it were, while a film provides much more information’, says neurologist Bas Bloem, who led the research
