Study: CDNF Being Evaluated for the Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease

 

Herantis Pharma has been conducting a study of their treatment for Parkinson’s disease, which is cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor (CDNF). Phase 1/2 has been completed, and an extension phase is expected to finish by the end of 2020. This phase is meant to evaluate the safety and tolerability of the treatment and is being conducted in two hospitals in Sweden and one in Finland. Researchers are hopeful that the results of this study will be positive, and they also hope that this drug has positive effects on ALS, as it is also being tested as a treatment for that condition.

About Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder that affects the central nervous system. It affects movement and is characterized by five different stages. Severity increases as the disease progresses. Stage one is characterized by subtle tremors on one side of the body. In stage two symptoms are more noticeable, as tremors and rigidity are in both sides of the body. Stage three sees the loss of balance and slow movement while stage four makes it impossible for one to live independently. Stage five is the most severe, as patients cannot stand or walk. Hallucinations and delusions are also common in this stage.

Parkinson’s disease occurs because of the breaking down or death of motor neurons, some of which produce dopamine. Abnormal brain activity occurs when these neurons are lost, which leads to Parkinson’s. As dopamine is important in the transmittance of messages to the muscles from the brain, the loss of dopamine results in the loss of motor functions. Doctors are unsure as to why these motor neurons die, but they do suspect a few factors that contribute, such as genetics, environmental factors like toxins, and Lewy bodies.

There are no FDA approved treatments for Parkinson’s, but there are options to manage symptoms. There are dopamine substitutes, carbidopa-levodopa, MAO-B inhibitors, catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors, anticholinergics, and amantadine.

About CDNF

Cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor (CDNF) is based on a protein in the cerebral spinal fluid and blood. It is meant to have neuroprotective and neurorestorative properties in the cells that create dopamine. Dopamine is missing in those with Parkinson’s, so this treatment is meant to correct that. CDNF is implanted in people’s brains by a neurosurgeon. It is not only a disease-modifying therapy, but it also a treatment of the motor and non-motor symptoms.

About the Study

17 patients participated in the Phase 1/2 of the clinical trial, 2 of which did not complete the treatment. These participants were randomly assigned to a placebo or CDNF for six months. After this six month period was over, all 15 participants of the study agreed to join an extension study, in which they will receive treatment monthly. They will start on a low dose and slowly increase over the course of the study. This trial is being conducted at three hospitals: Karolinska University Hospital, Lund University Hospital, and Helsinki University Hospital.

Herantis is hopeful that the study continues to go well and result in positive findings. They believe that this treatment will not only help those with Parkinson’s, but that it could also be effective in the treatment of ALS.

Find the source article here.