___ Sent with SnapperMail www.snappermail.com ...... Original Message ....... On Sun, 22 Apr 2007 11:27:49 -0700 "rayilynlee" <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >Parkinson's Drugs Undergoing Tests >Science Daily - After Parkinson's disease patients use the drug levodopa or >L-dopa for several years as a treatment for restoring the cellular >communication that controls muscle movement by replacing lost dopamine, they >begin to experience motor complications that include a shortened response to >each dose of L-dopa. > >"As time goes on and the disease progresses, the off periods, that is, time >during which the medicine is not working at its best, come more frequently >as on periods, or times during which patients experience their best response >to the drug, last for shorter periods of time," explained Jay S. Schneider, >PhD, who heads the Parkinson's Disease Research Unit at Thomas Jefferson >University Hospital. >Parkinson's disease gradually destroys brain cells that produce dopamine. As >dopamine levels drop, symptoms increase: tremors in the arms, legs and face; >periodically stiff or frozen limbs; slow movement, particularly a shuffling >gait; and impaired balance and coordination. >Dr. Schneider, Professor of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology and >Neurology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, and >movement disorder specialists Tsao-Wei Liang, M.D., Assistant Professor of >Neurology, Jefferson, and Daniel Erik Kremens, M.D., J.D., Assistant >Professor of Neurology, Jefferson, are spearheading a new clinical trial to >test a new anti-Parkinson's drug in an attempt to decrease such off-time >experiences and extend L-dopa's effectiveness. >The study will evaluate whether a drug, E2007, can significantly lengthen >the time that a patient's L-dopa medication is effective, reducing both the >amount of off time during the day, as well as other unwanted side effects of >L-dopa treatment. E2007 is non-dopaminergic drug that acts on a subclass of >receptors called the AMPA receptors, which mediate fast synaptic >transmission in the central nervous system. >Standard treatments for Parkinson's disease focus on restoring the cellular >communication that controls muscle movement by replacing lost dopamine with >L-dopa. While this therapy works well for a while, it can't stop the >disease's inevitable march - and the patient's decline. While one current >strategy is to focus on neuroprotective agents to modify disease >progression, another is to use so-called "adjuncts" that can have modest >effects on patients' off-times, when L-dopa can be ineffective for brief >periods. >"The hope is that by altering dopamine transmission through the modulating >the activity of AMPA receptors, there will be measurable effects on the >dopamine system," said Dr. Liang. >The study is designed for patients with more advanced Parkinson's who have >been taking L-dopa for some time and are now experiencing fluctuations in >its effectiveness. >Individuals must have at least two hours of off time a day. Groups of >patients will receive either one of two dosages of the drug or a placebo. >The trial is also aimed at evaluating E2007's safety, as well as how >patients tolerate it. The study will involve approximately 700 patients at >about 150 centers across the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South >America. Jefferson hopes to recruit at least 12 patients. >"It's an interesting approach and an exciting trial because it is exploring >a drug in a new therapeutic category," said Dr. Kremens."L-dopa is still the >gold standard and we haven't come up with a better dopamine agonist as yet." >Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by Thomas >Jefferson University. > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- >To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] >In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn