New Parkinson's drug tested at CU Denver
written by:Jeffrey Wolf Date last updated: 8/17/2009 10:28:22 PM
AURORA - A new study on Parkinson's disease going on in Colorado could be groundbreaking on how the disease is treated.
Dr. Curt Freed at the University of Colorado Denver's School of Medicine believes a drug normally used for a rare liver disease may slow or stop the progression of Parkinson's.
The drug, phenylbutyrate, can prevent brain deterioration in animal models of Parkinson's. In the animal study, the drug essentially turns on a gene that protects the brain.
Twelve human patients will be involved in the new study.
The goal is to see if the drug increases the levels of the gene in the patients' blood.
If the study shows promise in this early phase, it could lead to a larger study.
The initial grant for the study comes from the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
(Copyright KUSA*TV, All Rights Reserved)
Source: http://www.9news.com/includes/tools/print.aspx?storyid=121499
When I asked Dr. Curt Freed about the accuracy of this report, his reply was as follows:
The story is correct. In a genetic mouse model of Parkinson's, my lab has discovered that phenylbutyrate increases a protective gene in the blood and in the brain that stops Parkinson's from advancing. We are testing the drug in people to see if it turns on the gene, and if so, what dose is best. Assuming the drug does this, then we will test the drug to see if it can stop Parkinson's in people.
Curt R. Freed, MD, Professor and Head, Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine
New Parkinson's drug tested at CU Denver
written by:Jeffrey Wolf Date last updated: 8/17/2009 10:28:22 PM
AURORA - A new study on Parkinson's disease going on in Colorado could be groundbreaking on how the disease is treated.
Dr. Curt Freed at the University of Colorado Denver's School of Medicine believes a drug normally used for a rare liver disease may slow or stop the progression of Parkinson's.
The drug, phenylbutyrate, can prevent brain deterioration in animal models of Parkinson's. In the animal study, the drug essentially turns on a gene that protects the brain.
Twelve human patients will be involved in the new study.
The goal is to see if the drug increases the levels of the gene in the patients' blood.
If the study shows promise in this early phase, it could lead to a larger study.
The initial grant for the study comes from the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
(Copyright KUSA*TV, All Rights Reserved)
Source: http://www.9news.com/includes/tools/print.aspx?storyid=121499
When I asked Dr. Curt Freed about the accuracy of this report, his reply was as follows:
The story is correct. In a genetic mouse model of Parkinson's, my lab has discovered that phenylbutyrate increases a protective gene in the blood and in the brain that stops Parkinson's from advancing. We are testing the drug in people to see if it turns on the gene, and if so, what dose is best. Assuming the drug does this, then we will test the drug to see if it can stop Parkinson's in people.
Curt R. Freed, MD, Professor and Head, Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine