The Parkinson’s Disease Foundation estimates that there are 1.0 to 1.5 million people suffering from Parkinson’s disease (PD) in the United States alone. Those suffering from PD are afflicted with tremors in the limbs and face, rigidity and stiffness of the limbs and trunk, slowed movement, postural instability, and impaired balance. Presently, there is no cure for PD, but therapeutics are available to treat the symptoms and increase the quality of life for patients with the disease. The most common pharmaceutical treatment is levodopa (L-dopa) therapy. A mainstay of PD treatment since 1969, L-dopa therapy is not without its drawbacks. Moderate- to long-term L-dopa treatment results in ‘off-periods’, during which Parkinsonian symptoms return, as well as spontaneous and involuntary movements known as levodopa-induced dyskinesias (LIDs). LIDs occur in more than half of all PD patients after 5-10 years of L-dopa treatment, and the odds of an individual becoming afflicted with the condition increase over time. If LIDs become too severe, L-dopa administration can be reduced, but this risks worsening PD symptoms already present, as well as lessening the patient’s quality of life. Therefore, effective LID treatment is needed to enhance the quality of like of PD patients.
Description of Technology
Michigan State University has developed a therapeutic that utilizes viral gene therapy to treat levodopa-induced dyskinesias (LIDs) in patients afflicted with Parkinson’s disease. The virus acts to deliver a therapeutic which silences specific targets associated with LIDs development. By silencing the expression of TRH, LIDS can be mitigated, which acts to increase the patient’s tolerance of L-dopa. This increased tolerance means more L-dopa can be administered without adverse health risk, allowing for more effective PD treatment.
Benefits
· Treats LIDs
· Improves patient quality of life
· Platform technology – strategy useful in future developments in PD treatment (the formatting seems odd through the Benefit section)
Applications
· Treating LIDs in patients afflicted with PD
Patent Status
Patent Pending
