A new drug, which combats a side effect of a common Parkinson’s disease treatment, is entering clinical trials after successful studies in marmoset monkeys.
The drug, NXL-122, produced by pharma company Neurolixis, reduced the uncontrolled movement in marmosets with symptoms of Parkinson’s who were receiving a levodopa-based medicine, without affecting the efficiency of the treatment.
Levodopa-based medicines treat the muscle stiffness and tremors caused by Parkinson’s, but often result in the development of dyskinesia - involuntary movement which can affect a person’s ability to perform simple tasks, and affects up to 80% of patients after 10 years.
The new clinical trial will be funded by Parkinson’s UK and The Michael J. Fox Foundation, US, and co-ordinated by the Karolinska Institute in Sweden.