KO706 works by suppressing an enzyme called Abl tyrosine kinase, which is believed be associated with several biological processes in Parkinson’s, such as oxidative stress and alpha-synuclein-induced neurodegeneration.
Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company (SPARC) is conducting a phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of its experimental c-Abl inhibitor KO706 in people with early Parkinson’s. The trial of 500 participants, will randomly assign participants to receive the drug or placebo for nine months.
Results of SPARC’s pivotal phase l study, which evaluated the safety and tolerability of ascending doses of KO706, showed that the therapy was well-tolerated and allowed the selection of two doses likely to produce therapeutic effects.
The double-blind, placebo-controlled PROSEEK study will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the two selected KO706 doses in people with early Parkinson’s who are not receiving any dopaminergic therapy.
The study’s primary goal is to assess changes in patients’ motor functions. Researchers will also assess the drug’s impact on the health of dopamine-producing neurons in Parkinson’s patients through specialised (DaT SPECT) brain imaging.
DaT SPECT is a highly sensitive imaging tool capable of distinguishing people with Parkinson’s from unaffected people even in early stages of the disease. DaT SPECT images will be able to help determine the density of healthy dopamine-producing neurons in the participant’s brain.
Results of this proof of concept trial, if found to be positive, are expected to support the advancement of KO706 into phase 3 clinical studies for Parkinson’s.
Source: Parkinson’s News Today – September 2019