Originally published July 30 2005
Parkinson's trial reveals promising results
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Results from the first patient in a gene therapy trial for Parkinson's disease are encouraging, Alameda-based Avigen Inc. (AVGN) reported Tuesday.
Avigen, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVGN - News), today announced encouraging results from the first patient treated in a Phase I/II clinical trial of AV201, the Company's drug candidate for the treatment of mid- to later-stage Parkinson's disease.
The results from positron emission tomography (PET) brain scans obtained six months after AV201 infusion indicated an increased activity of the gene product, aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) in the targeted area of the brain, compared with the patient's pre-treatment PET scans.
In Parkinson's disease, brain dopamine concentrations decline, causing the main symptoms of muscle rigidity, slow movements, difficulty walking, and poor balance.
Levodopa, the first-line drug for treating symptoms of the disease requires AADC in order to be converted to dopamine.
However, over time AADC production in the brain also declines as Parkinson's disease progresses, making levodopa less effective.
The use of FMT-PET technology was pioneered at LBNL by William Jagust, M.D., a neurologist and the Faculty Senior Scientist at LBNL and professor of Public Health and Neuroscience at UC Berkeley, and Jamie Eberling, staff scientist at LBNL and Associate Professor of Neurology at UC Davis.
Dr. Chahine continued, "This news reinforces the confidence we've always had in our AAV gene therapy program and its potential, but does not change our longer term strategic vision to seek external funding for the AAV technology.
Avigen's AV201 is designed to restore the therapeutic effectiveness of levodopa by infusing the gene for AADC into the brain of patients, thus improving dopamine production.
In addition, there are many other risks and uncertainties inherent in the development of drug products.
Actual results may also differ from those projected in forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties associated with the conduct of clinical trials and in Avigen's operations and business.
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