Research Highlights from the 2024 International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders

Each year, the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (MDS) hosts its Congress, which brings together medical professionals from all over the world who are focused on researching and treating Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. This year, the 2024 MDS Congress took place in Philadelphia, PA, from September 27 to October 1. Below, some key research updates presented at the event, particularly those related to clinical trials in Parkinson’s. Trial on Parkinson’s and Cognition: A Phase 2 Randomized Clinical Trial of TAK-071, an Acetylcholine M1 Receptor Positive Allosteric Modulator, in Parkinson Disease with Cognitive Impairment (Shanbhag, N et al.) TAK-071 is a molecule designed to boost the activity of muscarinic receptors, which interact with acetylcholine, a brain chemical crucial for motor control. Acetylcholine also plays an essential role in cognition and balance. This phase 2 trial looked at whether TAK-071 could improve both walking and cognition in people with Parkinson’s who have cognitive impairments. While the drug did not improve walking, it did show promise in improving cognitive function and was generally safe and well-tolerated. Key Takeaway: TAK-071 could potentially be useful in improving cognitive function in people with Parkinson’s, though it didn’t have an effect on walking. Trial on a New Carbidopa/Levodopa Formulation: A Post Hoc Efficacy Analysis of Phase 3 Trials of Continuous Subcutaneous Foslevodopa/Foscarbidopa in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease (Soileau, M et al.) A new subcutaneous (under the skin) formulation of carbidopa/levodopa, recently approved by the FDA, was analyzed in this abstract. Data from two clinical trials, involving a total of 385 people with Parkinson’s, were combined. Results showed that this new treatment improved motor function, daily activities, sleep, and quality of life compared to the standard oral version of carbidopa/levodopa. Key Takeaway: This newly FDA-approved subcutaneous carbidopa/levodopa formulation offers a new treatment option for people with Parkinson’s experiencing fluctuations between "ON" and "OFF" time, and it may improve motor control, daily activities, and sleep compared to the oral version. Trial on Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS): Adaptive vs Conventional Chronic Deep Brain Stimulation: Results from a Randomized Pilot Trial in Parkinson’s Disease (Isaias, I et al.) Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a common treatment for Parkinson’s, where electrical impulses are delivered to certain areas of the brain. Adaptive DBS, a new version of this technology, can sense the brain’s electrical activity and adjust the stimulation in real-time to improve its effectiveness. In this study, 15 people with Parkinson’s were given both adaptive and conventional DBS to compare their experiences. Although motor scores were similar, 90% of patients preferred the adaptive DBS. Key Takeaway: Patients preferred adaptive DBS over conventional DBS, and this could become a more personalized treatment option in the future. Trial on Antibodies to Slow Parkinson’s Progression: Effect of Prasinezumab on Parkinson’s Disease Motor Progression in a Long-term Open-label Extension of the PASADENA Trial (Pagano, G et al.) People with Parkinson’s have clumps of a protein called alpha-synuclein in their brains, and these clumps are thought to contribute to the disease. Prasinezumab is an antibody designed to bind to alpha-synuclein and help remove it. The drug was tested in the PASADENA trial with people who had newly diagnosed Parkinson’s and mild symptoms. Although the trial didn’t meet its main goals, it showed some improvements in motor function. A long-term extension of the trial further showed that patients receiving the antibody had slower progression of motor symptoms compared to a control group. Key Takeaway: Prasinezumab, an antibody against alpha-synuclein, could slow the progression of motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease. Trial on a Cell-based Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease: NouvNeu001, A Phase 1 Stage Chemically Induced Human Dopaminergic Progenitor Cell Therapy for the Treatment of Mid- to Late-stage Parkinson’s Disease (Cai, M et al.) Parkinson’s is characterized by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain. While current treatments focus on restoring dopamine levels through medication, researchers are exploring the idea of implanting new dopamine-producing cells into the brain. NouvNeu001 is a type of stem cell-derived from skin or blood cells, which can potentially turn into dopamine-producing neurons. In this study, these cells were injected into a person with Parkinson’s for the first time, showing that the procedure was safe and led to improvements in motor function. Key Takeaway: NouvNeu001 represents an early-stage, cell-based therapy that could potentially replace lost dopamine-producing neurons in people with Parkinson’s. These are just a few of the exciting developments presented at the 2024 MDS Congress, highlighting the ongoing efforts to improve Parkinson’s treatments and find new ways to address its symptoms and progression.