This unique programme of research – the brain-child of Cure Parkinson’s Director of Research, Dr Richard Wyse – screens multiple prospective new treatments for Parkinson’s.
Our International Linked Clinical Trials programme operates year round. It brings together world experts in Parkinson’s to determine further underlying pathologies of Parkinson’s and review the merits of potential new ‘disease-modifying’ treatments. It thus builds cases for experimental therapies with the potential to slow or stop long term decline in Parkinson’s and manage these into trials.
The iLCT initiative already has momentum. There are now 40 drugs prioritised, with 15 already in or about to go into clinical trial. Our goal for the next five years is to ensure we can commit more therapies to trial to create new, effective treatments that affect disease progression for people living with Parkinson’s.
The Drug Prioritisation Process
The iLCT meeting occurs only once each year, but preparations continue year-round. The process starts by identifying the biological pathways of interest in what we know about the underlying pathology of Parkinson’s. We maintain a constant vigilance on research being published which targets these pathways.
Once interesting drugs have been identified, we begin exploring their basic characteristics. In most cases for example, it is vitally important that the drug can access the brain by penetrating the blood brain barrier which protects it. It is also important to understand the safety and tolerability of the compounds being discussed.
This rigorous selection process forms the basis of how Cure Parkinson’s decides which drugs should be clinically tested. This has resulted in a clinical trial programme that now involves 15 drugs in 16 clinical trials – some of which are about to start, some nearing completion and some, having completed, are moving quickly on to the next phase. We believe that the iLCT programme is currently the fastest way of bringing much needed and potentially curative treatments into the clinic for the Parkinson’s community.
Over the course of the year, Cure Parkinson’s will be discussing the case for each potential therapy with various biotech companies and academic researchers. It is important to appreciate that these therapies are experimental; in many cases, very little is known about their Parkinson’s potential.
As chair of the iLCT committee since the programme was created in 2012, Van Andel Institute’s Professor Patrik Brundin has been instrumental in its success and the two organisations’ partnership has been a vital ingredient in this flourishing programme. Professor Brundin explains the role of the iLCT committee.
