Whole Network Most Recent TOP10 Gene Therapy Microbiology Nanomedicine Stem Cells

 

Gene Therapies Against Parkinson Disease On Clinical Trials

Filed in archive Drugs, Vaccines and Therapeutics by ruth on December 15, 2005

BlogPicture
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF) handed over a three-year grant of approximately $740,000 to Ceregene, Inc., to help fund Ceregene's Phase I clinical study of CERE-120, a novel gene therapy product using the neurturin gene. In pre-clinical tests, CERE-120 has shown potential to slow or stop the progression of Parkinson's Disease, a debilitating condition resulting when brain cells cease to produce dopamine, a chemical crucial for the cellular communication that controls muscle movement.

Scientists and neurosurgeons from the University of California, San Francisco and Chicago's Rush University Medical Center have commenced the first attempts to use to treat Parkinson's Disease using CERE-120. In this particular study, the brains of 12 patients are being injected with a harmless virus that carries the gene for one growth factor, called neurturin, in an effort to protect and/or rescue the remaining dopamine-producing neurons, or nerve cells.

There are two other gene therapy approaches currently on trial:

UCSF researchers and Avigen, Inc aims to extend the therapeutic effect of Parkinson's medication, levodopa, through gene therapy designed to spur production of an enzyme that converts levodopa into dopamine. Three patients so far have received the therapy, with 12 more to be enrolled.

In September, Neurologix Inc. announced promising preliminary results from 12 patients received gene therapy involving the gene encoding for glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), an enzyme which synthesizes the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, (gamma)-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Results indicate that the gene therapy seemed safe, with no adverse reactions and, resulted to a statistically significant improvement in motor function on the side of their body correlating to the treated part of the brain.


Advertisement


Permalink: Gene Therapies Against Parkinson Disease On Clinical Trials
Tags: gene  therapy  biotech  parkinson  disease  parkinson+disease  gene+therapy  clinical+trials 

Trackback: http://www.creative-weblogging.com/cgi-bin/mt-tb.pl/12315



Advertisement


Advertisement


CW ToolbarInstall
RSSrss   | See all blog subscribe options
Googlegoogle   |   What is RSS?
Yahoo!yahoo
AddthisAddThis Feed Button
BloglinesBloglines
Newsletter
Advertisement - Book yours here.

Use our search feature to look for other interesting posts

Just this blog Whole network
Advertisement -
Book yours here..


 
  • Would you like to have a new interactive marketing channel for your company? Learn more about Sponsored Blogs with Creative Weblogging. See how we helped companies like Weblin and cellity reach their goals.
  • Would you like to reach millions of blog readers every day? See you banner on hundreds of blogs with TierOneAds? Stay in control measuring conversion in real time. Register now.
  • Would you like to make more money blogging? Use TierOneAds a new platform that allows you as a blogger to set your prices per impression. Register now.
  • Do you have a blog with more than 50k page views from the US? Let us market your blog and earn great fix payments and bonuses.
  • Would you like to see your text link here? Let us know!
Advertisement
Book yours here.



  • Testimonials

  • 'Very nice blog layout with great content. Are you interested in Star Trek props that are quickly becoming reality? Then this is the blog for you. Human medical scanners, nano technology and more great technological advancements.' -VirtualLoop Blog of the Week

    'I subscribe to your blog and have been enjoying your posts and perspective.'
  • Other blogs in the same channel in the Creative Weblogging Network

Advertisement -
Book yours here..






Advertisement - Book yours here..
 
Tagcloud: Biotech Hubs and Facilities Biotech/Science Blogs Corporate and Industrial News Diagnostics, Methodologies and Instrumentation Drugs, Vaccines and Therapeutics Energy, Environment and Ecology Food and Agriculture Gene Therapy Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics Meetings and Other Events Microbiology Nanomedicine Other Biotechnology News Patents and Intellectual Property Rights Sponsored Post Stem Cells