New drug could improve Parkinson s disease treatment

New York Aug 1 (IANS) Researchers have developed a new drug that may limit the progression of Parkinson s disease while providing better symptom relief to people with the disease.

Symptoms of Parkinson s disease are commonly managed using selective dopamine receptor agonists.

While these drugs are useful in early-stage Parkinson s they tend to lose efficacy in later disease stages.

In this study the researchers employed a preclinical model of Parkinson s disease to compare the effects of the dopamine agonist ropinirole to their new experimental drug known as D-512.

In experiments with animal models the study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology showed that D-512 was more efficacious than ropinirole in treating the symptoms of Parkinson s disease.

"We were quite astounded to discover that our new compound D-512 was superior to the widely-used drug ropinirole in terms of maximal symptom relief and duration of action " said David Lindenbach from Binghamton University - State University of New York.

The researchers also noted that D-512 may have fewer side effects than current medications.

When patients take anti-Parkinsonian drugs over time they develop hyperkinetic movements that are hard to control called dyskinesia.

The researchers are currently at a pre-clinical phase.

--IANS
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