Category Archives: Parkinson’s Treatment

ESPOO, FINLAND--(Marketwire - Mar 21, 2013) - A new levodopa product (ODM-101) developed by Orion Corporation could improve the treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease patients. According to a Phase II study, presented yesterday at American Academy of Neurology's Annual Meeting in San Diego, ODM-101 significantly decreased daily OFF-time without increasing ON-time with troublesome dyskinesias compared to reference product Stalevo, which is an established standard medication for advanced Parkinson's patients experiencing so-called end-of-dose wearing off symptoms associated with levodopa therapy. Stalevo, also a product of Orion's own pharmaceutical R&D, contains three active substances in one tablet: levodopa and the enzyme inhibitors entacapone and carbidopa. ODM-101 has the same components as Stalevo but with higher and fixed amount of carbidopa (either 65 or 105 mg) regardless of levodopa dosage. For the clinical Phase II trial, 117 patients with Parkinson's disease and with response fluctuations were randomly given Stalevo, ODM-101/65 mg and ODM-101/105 mg in a cross-over study with three periods each lasting for 4 weeks. Daily OFF-time (time when patients do not have adequate response to their treatment) and ON-time (time when patients have a good treatment response) with and without troublesome dyskinesia (involuntary movements) were measured by patient diary. Both ODM-101/65 … Continue reading →

Parkinson's Shuffle Gait Short video for PTA 113. By: Taylor Richardson … Continue reading →

JERUSALEM--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (TEVA) today announced that 15 abstracts highlighting study results for Parkinsons disease (PD) and relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) will be presented during the 65th American Academy of Neurology (AAN) annual meeting in San Diego, Calif., March 16-23, 2013. New data for AZILECT (rasagiline tablets), an MAO-B inhibitor for the treatment of PD, will be presented as part of the meetings Emerging Science program (formerly known as Late-Breaking Science) on Wednesday, March 20th at 5:45pm PST. We are pleased with the variety of topics and quality of research results that will be presented at AAN this year, said Dr. Michael Hayden, President of Global R&D and Chief Scientific Officer at Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Tevas legacy in CNS is grounded in our commitment to ongoing collaboration with academia, medical institutions, and patient advocacy groups to find innovative solutions for patients who live with chronic and debilitating diseases, such as RRMS and Parkinsons disease. Featured presentations include: Platform Presentation/Poster Session Details: AZILECT COPAXONE Laquinimod About Azilect AZILECT (rasagiline tablets) is indicated for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) both as initial therapy alone and to be added to levodopa later in … Continue reading →

John Hougan was 52 when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. What began as a slight tremor one morning soon led him to Vancouver General Hospital. After three days of tests, he received the news. "I was taken aback," he said of the diagnosis. "It's not something that's in my family. At first, I was more bothered by not knowing what it was. I knew a little bit about Parkinson's because my wife works with somebody who has it." He also was aware that actor Michael J. Fox has the disease. "The first thing you think is: how fast is this going to progress?" Caused by a decrease in the production of dopamine, Parkinson's is characterized by uncontrollable movements and muscular rigidity. It usually strikes adults over 50, although the degenerative disease can hit earlier, particularly when there is a family history of Parkinson's. The average age of diagnosis in Canada is approximately 62, but Parkinson Society Canada says there has been an increase in the number of patients under the age of 50. There is no known cure for the disease. Current treatments call for medication that includes synthetic dopamine. But Hougan, an active person to begin with, has … Continue reading →

By IrishCentral Contributing Writer Published Tuesday, March 12, 2013, 7:15 AM Updated Tuesday, March 12, 2013, 9:45 AM Italian Doctor Daniel Volpe has discovered that Irish dancing has a positive effect on patients suffering from Parkinson's disease Photo by ParkinsonsItalia.it Doctor Daniele Volpe is not an ordinary Italian neurologist. In addition to heading up the Parkinson's Rehabilitation unit at the St. John of God hospital in Venice, he is a musician who loves trad and who visits Ireland frequently to play in a band. Amazingly, he has found a way to connect both his professional life and his love of trad music. The story begins in June of 2010 in Peppers Pub, a Trad hot spot located in the tiny village of Feakle (population 126), in County Clare. Peppers regularly offers Trad nights where customers can enjoy music, and if so inclined, participate in set dances. On this particular night, Dan Fox (Volpes stage name) was playing alongside Charlie Piggot, one of the founding members of De Dannan, and as the band was about to start, the Italian doctor noticed a man with an unsteady gait enter the pub. "Someone with Parkinson's," he remembers thinking. About 20 minutes later the … Continue reading →

Home national 1 in every 100 Thais prone to Parkinson's disease The Nation March 9, 2013 1:00 am However, Chulalongkorn Hospital's Dr Rungroj Phitthayasiri did not say if this 1:100 ratio was higher or lower than previous figures, though he did say that Parkinson's was afflicting more people between the ages of 21 and 40. He explained that the initial symptoms were usually muscle cramps, and young people often mistook them as general muscular spasms or bone-related illness and sought treatment with orthopaedists. However, he said, if the symptoms were correctly diagnosed at an early stage, it can extend patients' life by 30 years and reduce the risk of injuries incurred from a fall or a collapse, which sufferers are prone to. Factors leading to Parkinson's include constant exposure to insecticide, injuries or hard impact to the head, though exercise is deemed as one of the many preventative measures. Dr Phawut Mekwichai, from the Maharaj Nakhon Ratchasima hospital, said 74 per cent of 300 Parkinson's patients treated in a six-month study showed symptoms that manifested at night, which put them at the risk of suffocation, cardiac arrest and subsequent death. He suggested that such patients be turned over every two … Continue reading →

Medical Files By Rafael Castillo M.D. Philippine Daily Inquirer The ordinary man on the street does not know much of Parkinsons disease or PD. An elderly patient who was recently diagnosed to have PD thought it was a disease related to boxing. Muhammad Ali has somehow become the face of PD. Known for his agility and nimbleness in his youth as a heavyweight boxing champion, he is now seen in news features and documentaries with full-blown features of PDresting hand tremors as if hes rolling a pill or marble with his fingers, stiffness of the limbs, decrease in facial expression, shuffling or small steps when walking. A related concern was raised for Manny Pacquiao after his knockout loss to Juan Marquez, hence the unsolicited advice that he hang up his gloves for good before its too late. Although PD and Parkinsonism are sometimes interchanged, theyre not exactly the same and some brain experts explain that its actually Parkinsonism that is linked more to boxing. Parkinsonism is actually the general condition and PD is just a type of it. Repetitive head trauma Permanent injury to the brain cells results from repetitive head trauma. The brain cells or neurons in an area … Continue reading →

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA--(Marketwire - Mar 6, 2013) - Prana Biotechnology ( NASDAQ : PRAN ) ( ASX : PBT ) today announced that PBT434, Prana's lead drug candidate for Parkinson's Disease (PD) and movement disorders, will be presented at two international conferences in March. The key finding to be reported is that PBT434 reduces the aggregation and accumulation of a key protein (alpha-synuclein) in multiple transgenic animal models of the disease. The alpha-synuclein (s.n.) protein aggregates inside the nerve cells of the substantia nigra, the part of the brain that is progressively damaged in the disease. The substantia nigra is responsible for controlling movement. The (s.n.) protein aggregates are associated with the onset and progression of Parkinson's Disease and in three different Parkinson's Disease animal models, PBT434 significantly prevented the death of substantia nigra brain cells. "A treatment for Parkinson's Disease and other movement diseases that actually modifies the course of the diseases remains a major unmet medical need. Our data suggests that PBT434 intervenes in metal dependent pathways which otherwise promote the aggregation of alpha-synuclein. Thus, PBT434 prevents the death of substantia nigra cells. We have observed marked improvements in motor function and coordination with PBT434," commented Associate Professor Robert … Continue reading →

Tommy Zuleger was only 29 when the symptoms of Parkinson's disease first started: a shake in his right hand, problems sleeping and "aches and pains" that were unexplainable. "The years went on and they got progressively worse," said Zuleger, a real estate executive from Phoenix. "I figured I had been hard on my body when I was younger. I thought my body was paying me back." But by his 30s, he could no longer ignore the muscle stiffness, restless legs and increasing tremor. Zuleger's girlfriend watched a documentary on the actor Michael J. Fox, who was diagnosed at 30, and saw remarkable similarities. "I blew her off, but she pretty much insisted that I go [to the doctor] to satisfy her curiosity and get looked at and see if anything is wrong," he said. In 2009, Zuleger got the dire diagnosis at the age of 34, at a time when more Americans are being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at a younger age. "There were a lot of unknowns and that's what was really scary about it," he said. "It's one thing for the doctor to say you have cancer or a disease that's fightable. ... With this, there really is … Continue reading →

NEW YORK, March 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue: Parkinson`s Disease: World Drug Market 2013-2023 http://www.reportlinker.com/p0663861/Parkinson`s-Disease-World-Drug-Market-2013-2023.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Drug_and_Medication Report Details Your guide to sales outlooks and R&D for treating Parkinson's Our new study investigates developments, also letting you assess projected sales data at overall world market, submarket and national level. There you investigate the most promising areas in that industry and market segment for neurodegenerative disorders. Forecasts and other analyses to help you stay ahead in knowledge In our report you find revenue forecasting to 2023, growth rates and market shares. Also, you see qualitative analysis (SWOT), business news, outlooks and developmental trends (R&D). You receive 63 tables, 38 charts and four research interviews. You can stay ahead in knowledge for treating that motor system disorder and benefit your research and analyses. Our work lets you discover industry dynamics and growth potentials. Make sure you know the latest trends, innovations and opportunities. The following sections show what you find in our study. See more here: Parkinson 's Disease: World Drug Market 2013-2023 … Continue reading →