NEW YORK (AP) -- Biogen Idec Inc. said Thursday that a team it led found that a receptor in the central nervous system may play a role in Parkinson's disease, suggesting that blocking this receptor could help treat the debilitating muscle disorder.
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Parkinson's occurs when neurons in the brain that control muscle movement deteriorate and die off, first causing trembling and muscle rigidity, then eventually leading to difficulty speaking and swallowing.
The biotech firm said a team of Yale scientists found that a molecule called the Nogo-66 receptor may be involved in the degeneration of these neurons. The company had been collaborating with the Yale group and has an agreement with the university to develop therapies based on the discovery.
Currently, there are treatments that ease the symptoms of Parkinson's, but none that slow the progression of the disorder.
Shares of Cambridge, Mass.-based Biogen Idec rose 4 cents to $43.76 in morning trading on the Nasdaq.
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