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The thought that drug companies would prefer that diseases not be cured so that they can continue profiting from pharmaceutical sales is cynical and unproductive. As expensive as many drugs are they still remain the most cost effective treament for disease in most instances. Drug companies would benefit from increased NIH basic research into PD because in the short term newly developed drug treatments, perhaps some for very specific symptoms, will result from this work. They would love to have the federal government do free basic research for them if it will provide new opportunities to develop blockbuster drugs. It is in their interest to maintain a pipeline of newer, more effective treatments because the older ones eventually go off patent and face stiff competition from generic manufacturers. A cure is not around the corner. Effective treatment is our immediate goal and that will take newer more effective medications along side some of the more radical surgeries and genetically engineered solutions that will be more common in the years to come. The drug companies have restrictions on the types of political activity and lobbying in which they become involved. Perhaps someone knowledgeable can address this issue directly. The drug companies are not the enemy here; Parkinson's is the enemy. We need support from all sources. Paranoia about hidden motives can only hurt us.