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There are a lot of promising developments! Apomorphine HC1 (oral tablet) - Pentech Pharm. (Wheeling, IL) - Phase II Dopamine agonist has a rapid onset of action, offering a 'rescue' for severe 'offs'. ========================================================================= Cerestat (Aptiganel HC1)- Cambridge Neuroscience (Cambridge, MA)-Phase II Glutamate receptor agonist. It is hoped that by blocking the NMDA glutamate receptors in a specific region of the basal ganglia will give symptomatic relief as well as slow the progression of PD. ======================================================================== Destinex (Cabergoline) - Pharmacia (Columbus, OH)- Phase III Dopamine agonist with a half life of 65 hours. Once a day dosing. Similar side effects to pergolide and bromocriptine. ========================================================================= Dihydrexidine - Interneuron Pharm, (Lexington, MA)- Phase I A new dopamine-like drug. Study currently conducted at NIH Clinical Center. ========================================================================== Dopascan Injections - Guilford Pharm. (Baltimore, MD)- Phase II Cocaine analogue offers the hope for a specific and accurate PD diagnosis. ========================================================================= Entacapone - Orion Pharms. Kansas City, KA - Phase III Selective COMT inhibitor. Prolonged the duration of motor response to LD assessed by clinical ratings. It was concluded that inhibition of COMT by entacapone increases the plasma half-life of levodopa and augments the antiparkinsonian effects of single and repeated doses of levodopa. ========================================================================= GDNF - Amgen (glial derived) ========================================================================== Lazabemide - Study supported by Hoffmann-LaRoche, Nutley, NJ ========================================================================== NeuroCell - PD - Diacrin (Charlestown, MA) - Phase I Highly specific antibody that masks the surface molecule that signals the presence of a foreign tissue to the human immune system offers to revolutionize the field of fetal transplantation. At least 3 patients are known to have received pig fetal brain cells treated with this approach. ========================================================================= NS2214 - Bristol-Myers ( Princeton, NJ) - Phase I Antiparkinson compound, discovered by NeuroSearch of Copenhagen, has shown to reverse the symptoms of PD without causing dyskinesia. ========================================================================== OPC-14117 Otsuka America Pharm. ( Rockville, MD) - Phase II Protocol currently offered by NIH. OPC-14117 is a neuroprotective free radical scavenger drug aimed at slowing the progression of PD. ======================================================================== == == Papaverine HC1- Pentech Pharm.( Wheeling, IL) - Phase II topical gel also used for impotence. ======================================================================== == Pramipexole- The Upjohn Co., now known as Pharmica-Upjohn( Kalamazoo, MI) Phase III Non-ergoline agonist. Safe add-on treatment of advanced PD with wearing-off. ======================================================================== == Pro-Amantine (Midodrine HC!) - Roberts Pharm. (Eatontown, NJ) Alpha one agonist aids in the treatment of low blood pressure. Patients can receive this agent through a compassionate use protocol. ======================================================================== == Rasagiline Mesylate - Lemmon ( Sellersville,PA) -Phase II Acts both as a MAO inhibitor as well as a dopamine agonist. ======================================================================== == Ropinirole - SmithKlein Beecham ( Philadelphia, PA) -Phase III Non-ergoline agonist at D2 receptor. Amelioration of PD symptoms. Improves symptoms in newly dx patients delaying the need for LD. ======================================================================== = Selegline SR - Pharmavene (Gaithersburg, MD) -Phase I Being developed as an anti-apoptosis agent, through use of a transdermal patch. Given the recent concerns about selegiline, further development of the patch will await a more thorough understanding of the mechanism. ======================================================================== == Tasmar (Tolcapone) - Hoffmann-La Roche (Nutley, NJ) Phase III Improves PD patients with end-of-dose wearing off while reducing the requirement of LD. Beneficial as an add-on therapy. ========================================================================== NMDA-blocker LY235959 -Genentech The particular type of glutamate involved is N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA). The NMDA-blocker LY235959 has worked in MPTP monkeys. Some drugs already in clinical use, such as amantadine and memantine, are NMDA-blockers, and that property is suspected to be responsible for their beneficial effect. The search is on for a possible non- surgical alternative to pallidotomy or pallidal stimulation. From: "J.R. Bruman" <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Pharmacologic Pallidotomy "Our findings show that GDNF can prevent the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the adult mesencephalon, suggesting a potential usage for GDNF in therapeutic approaches to Parkinson's disease. GDNF so far is the only identified factor with highly potent trophic activity on dopaminergic neurons in vivo," noted Dr. Klaus Beck, department of neuroscience, Genentech. Two other research groups reported that GDNF appeared to protect nerve cells involved with muscle function, suggesting the protein might also prove useful in the treatment of a number of degenerative disorders. ======================================================================= Regards, Margaret Tuchman [log in to unmask]