Gail and listmembers,
Thanks Gail for posting this announcement. The Rilutek clinical trial
sounds promising - I was planning to call my doctor about it. But a
description of the trial from the NPF website (see below) specifies that
trial participants cannot currently be receiving any other drugs for
Parkinson's. There is more information at the Rilutek site and at
Centerwatch - which also lists other clinical trials currently taking
place. If anyone on the list is accepted for this study - please let
the rest of us know how it's going.
Linda Herman
[NPF]
Parkinson's Disease Patients Sought For Phase III Clinical Trial
---------------------------------------------------------
Parkinson's patients are currently being sought for enrollment in a
nationwide, multi-center Phase III clinical trial examining the potential
to delay the progression of the disease. Patients, ages 40-80, with
recent,
untreated symptoms are being sought at 43 clinical site locations in the
United States.
Research with experimental Parkinson's disease animal models suggests
that
Rilutek (riluzole) tablets, the first drug approved for treating
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, could have
a
neuroprotective effect in Parkinson's disease by preventing, halting or
slowing down the rate of nerve cell death. The drug's exact mechanism of
action is unknown.
Patients enrolled in the Phase III clinical trial will receive treatment
(riluzole or placebo) for two years. Riluzole was approved for ALS in the
U.S. in 1995 and has since been approved in 44 other countries. The
drug's
most common side effects in ALS patients are asthenia (fatigue), nausea,
and elevated liver enzymes. Side effects in patients with Parkinson's are
not known.
Participants in the study must: Be 40-80 years of age with symptoms
present
for less than 3 years Have a diagnosis of Parkinson's syndrome with at
least two of the following three symptoms: resting tremor, rigidity or
slowness Not be currently receiving medication for treatment of
Parkinson's
disease (participants will be allowed to start other medications during
the
study)
Patient recruitment for the trial is underway via a toll-free 800 number.
Individuals meeting the study's requirements are encouraged to call and
enroll. To learn the location of a study site and additional enrollment
criteria, please call 1-800-220-8610 or visit Centerwatch at
http://www.centerwatch.com RPR's Internet website at
http://www.rp-rorer.com/us/rilutek/trials.html.
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Documents of Similar Interest:
Parkinson's patients needed for clinical trial
Study To Examine Medication's Effects on Patients' Daily Living
Activities
Volunteers Needed to Participate in a Parkinson's Disease
Transplantation Study
To evaluate an investigational therapy for the treatment of
Parkinson's disease.
Participation In Research Requested
A research project directed towards identifying a gene that can
cause the disease.
Parkinson's Disease Drug Studies
Parkinson's Disease Surgical Studies
Clinical Study - selegiline
Study to investigate a new formulation of the medication
selegiline.
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