LONDON, March 26 (Reuters) - British biotech Phytopharm gave up its search for a treatment for Parkinson's Disease using a drug derived from subtropical plants on Tuesday and said it was looking to sell the business. A month after the medicine, Cogane, failed in a clinical trial, Phytopharm (LSE: PYM.L - news) said it would not commit any more money to further research and development and would cut staff. The company said it had held exploratory merger talks with a number of parties. Cogane's failure - the latest in a line that include Renovo, Minster and Antisoma - highlighted the all-or-nothing bet that small biotechs need to make to develop and launch drugs on their own. Phytopharm suffered earlier setbacks. It abandoned research aiming to commercialise a drug for the management of obesity derived from a southern African cactus called Hoodia gordonii three years ago, to focus its efforts on Cogane instead. It raised 24 million pounds ($36 million)from investors to fund research into Cogane. The British company had hoped its compounds had the potential to be a new class of therapy for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's and motor neurone disease. Early trials indicated that Cogane could ease the … Continue reading →

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Mar 27, 2013) - Parkinson's is a disease that families fight together. When a person is diagnosed with Parkinson's the symptoms echo through, and affect, every family member. Parkinson Society Canada knows that managing Parkinson's doesn't solely rest on the person living with the disease. Daily care and quality of life is often possible thanks to a cohesive team including doctors, health care professionals and family members. During Parkinson's Awareness Month in April, Parkinson Society Canada is focusing on families and the impact Parkinson's disease can have on those who closely surround a person living with the disease. Caregivers can experience their own health problems as well as social and emotional difficulties if the care for a person with Parkinson's isn't adequately distributed among family, health care professionals and the community. "My family tries to do things to make life easier for me. My wife and kids have been a huge help," said John Kiefer, a heavy duty mechanic from Saskatchewan who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2009 at age 41. "We try to work together as best we can." John's wife Wanda, and their two children, Drayton and Danica, split household chores to ease the … Continue reading →

KUSA - As a part of Parkinson's Awareness Month in April, the Parkinson's Association of the Rockies is looking to establish an understanding about the patients, caregivers and the treatment for the disease. Former PAR president Rick Schwartz, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's 13 years ago, says treatment for the disease is improving greatly. "Deep brain stimulation seems to be the key to having a better life for a lot of us with Parkinsons," Schwartz said. They're making great strides." Schwartz said the treatment surgery was conducted while the patients were awake so that they could tell the doctors where to place the probes. Now, doctors are beginning to gain the ability to administer the surgery while patients are asleep. "Now they're doing it when you're asleep, which makes it a lot easier for the patient and the doctor feels he can put the probe exactly where he wants it with new technology," Schwartz said. Although the focus of the disease is usually on the patient, Schwartz says it's important for caregivers to receive recognition and help as well. "I think in a lot of ways the caregivers have more stress on them than the patients themselves because they have … Continue reading →

LONDON (Reuters) - British biotech Phytopharm gave up its search for a treatment for Parkinson's Disease using a drug derived from subtropical plants on Tuesday and said it was looking to sell the business. A month after the medicine, Cogane, failed in a clinical trial, Phytopharm said it would not commit any more money to further research and development and would cut staff. The company said it had held exploratory merger talks with a number of parties. Cogane's failure - the latest in a line that include Renovo, Minster and Antisoma - highlighted the all-or-nothing bet that small biotechs need to make to develop and launch drugs on their own. Phytopharm suffered earlier setbacks. It abandoned research aiming to commercialize a drug for the management of obesity derived from a southern African cactus called Hoodia gordonii three years ago, to focus its efforts on Cogane instead. It raised 24 million pounds ($36 million)from investors to fund research into Cogane. The British company had hoped its compounds had the potential to be a new class of therapy for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's and motor neurone disease. Early trials indicated that Cogane could ease the symptoms and slow the progression of … Continue reading →