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Tuesday August 13 6:53 AM EDT Amgen Begins Parkinson's Drug Trial THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., (Reuter) - Amgen Inc. says it began the first human clinical trial of a new drug to treat Parkinson's disease, a devastating illness that affects about 1 million Americans. Parkinson's disease, characterized by rigidity, tremors, and difficulty initiating movement, is caused when neurons in the brain containing dopamine become inactive. The biotechnology company said its new drug reversed Parkinson's symptoms in pre-clinical models. The drug protects dopamine neurons against the disease and restores activity to neurons that have already been damaged, the company said. Amgen said its trial for the drug, called Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, or GDNF, is designed primarily to evaluate safety and tolerability in patients with moderate to severe Parkinson's disease. Because GDNF does not readily cross the blood-brain barrier it will be administered directly into the brain, Amgen said. The trial, which will last 12 to 15 months, is being conducted at multiple Parkinson's disease treatment centers in North America. Following the onset of symptoms, Parkinson's patients typically survive for 10-15 years. Conventional drugs which help symptoms early in the disease are less effective and have toxic side effects as the disease progresses. Amgen's stock rose $1.375 to $56.75 on Nasdaq on Monday. Tuesday August 13 6:53 AM EDT