A recent study suggests that a drug targeting a build-up of proteins associated with Parkinson's disease may slow the progression of motor symptoms in individuals with advanced forms of the condition. The drug, prasinezumab, is an antibody designed to bind to aggregated clumps of misfolded alpha-synuclein in the brain.
The study, led by Gennaro Pagano at Roche, involved 316 participants with early-stage Parkinson's disease. While initial results suggested that the drug had no significant impact, further analysis revealed that it may be effective in individuals with more severe Parkinson's symptoms.
Participants with rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, taking MAO-B inhibitors, or rated as stage two on a symptom scale showed a greater response to the drug compared to those receiving a placebo. This led to a significant reduction in the rate of motor symptom worsening over a one-year period.
However, the study did not assess whether the drug actually clears alpha-synuclein from the brain, which is considered the underlying cause of Parkinson's disease. Without this information, the drug's disease-modifying potential remains uncertain.
Vinata Vedam-Mai at the University of Florida Health noted that longer-term data on the drug's safety and efficacy are needed. She also pointed out the importance of investigating the drug's effectiveness in individuals with milder forms of Parkinson's over an extended period.
In conclusion, while the study shows promise for a potential disease-modifying treatment for Parkinson's disease, further research is needed to fully understand the drug's mechanism of action and its long-term effects on individuals with varying degrees of disease severity.