Parkinson’s and nerve growth factors
Progress in the field of neurotrophic factors
Infusion:
In the recent trials in Bristol of GDNF and in Scandinavia with CDNF, a novel convection enhanced delivery device developed by Renishaw has been used. This has enabled pin-point precise delivery of the molecules to the brain and has ensured that the nerve growth factors are only delivered to the area where brain cells have been affected. The device has not received regulatory approval so can only be used in a clinical trial setting. However Herantis Pharma has opted to explore alternative delivery approaches for CDNF that would not involve invasive brain surgery for infusions of growth factors.
Gene therapy:
There is an urgent need for treatments to slow or stop the progression of Parkinson’s and the use of gene therapy via gene replacement offers the potential to achieve this with a single treatment. The development of conventional treatments for Parkinson’s meeting their target in the brain is made particularly difficult due to the blood-brain-barrier (BBB) which protects the brain from harmful compounds circulating in the bloodstream; and viral vectors (or carriers) have shown potential in certain neurodegenerative gene therapy applications. Researchers are using carefully engineered viruses that act as biological delivery vessels to ‘infect’ brain cells with their engineered genetic contents – in this case the gene needed to make nerve growth factor. This pioneering delivery approach removes the need for invasive surgical infusion treatment.
Other novel delivery mechanisms into the brain
Work is intensifying in the delivery of small fragment nerve growth factors to the brain, such as the Cure Parkinson’s funded study of C-CDNF. If effective in the laboratory, these small fragments may be developed for subcutaneous or nasal delivery which would be less invasive and therefore could make growth factors a viable restorative therapy for people with Parkinson’s.
Nanoformulation:
A recent paper from Dr Olesja Bondarenko and Professor Mart Saarma, published in Frontiers of Cellular Neuroscience, reviews the array of different nerve growth factor delivery methods for Parkinson’s based on the clinical trials of GDNF and CDNF to date, as well as the current and future possibilities of using nano-sized particles as carriers of these drugs into the brain.
New data supporting neurotrophic factor as a potential treatment for Parkinson’s
An article in the Journal of the International Movement Disorders Society reports on some pre-clinical (laboratory) data supporting the development of ‘Glial cell line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor’ (GDNF) as a…
Phase 1 trial results of new GDNF delivery mechanism
The results of a recent clinical trial testing a new way of delivering the nerve growth factor, GDNF, into the brains of people with Parkinson’s demonstrate that it is…
Neurotrophic Factor GDF5 – an alternative to GDNF?
Neurotrophic factors are small protein that are naturally produced in the brain to help nurture and protect nerve cells (neurons). Cure Parkinson’s is a strong supporter of research…
Cure Parkinson’s funds new nerve growth factors for Parkinson’s
Nerve growth or neurotrophic factors such as CDNF and GDNF are proteins that support neurons and encourage their growth and survival during development. There has been considerable preclinical research…
Documentary: ‘The Parkinson’s Drug Trial: A Miracle Cure?’
This award winning documentary was first broadcast in 2019 and features trial participants, including our late co-founder Tom Isaacs, in a cutting-edge drug trial involving complex brain surgery; and…
GDNF – A new chapter
We welcome the news of further investment in GDNF (Glial Cell-Line Derived Neurotrophic Factor) by Parkinson’s UK.
‘AskBio’ acquires BNB and GDNF gene therapy trials
BNB and AskBio have joined forces to expand a gene therapy programme for Parkinson’s
Herantis Pharma: Phase 1/2 CDNF topline results
We are delighted that Finnish-based Herantis Pharma Plc have announced that their ongoing phase 1-2 clinical trial testing the neuroprotective agent ‘cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor’ (or CDNF) in people…
GDNF and cell transplantation: dual therapies for Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s is a complex condition and it is becoming increasingly clear that the future of disease-modifying therapies for Parkinson’s will rely on the use of multiple treatment approaches, as…
GDNF trial results published
Results from a pioneering clinical trials programme that delivered an experimental treatment directly into the brain of people with Parkinson’s offer hope that it may be possible to restore…