En Español | Plain Text Version | Skip Navigation

You are here:  Home > Funding & Research > Research > Parkinson's Disease Research Web > Drug Sumaries

Neuroprotective Agents for Clinical Trials

Skip secondary menu

Join our electronic mailing list

Background

Treatments that are currently used for Parkinson's Disease (PD) reduce symptoms but become less effective over time, as the underlying disease progresses. For this reason, the identification of therapies that can slow or stop the progression of PD would be of tremendous benefit. To address this goal, NINDS has committed to a series of studies to evaluate potential neuroprotective agents in treating PD. A team of pharmacologists, clinicians, and clinical trial experts - including NINDS staff - developed specific criteria for the evaluation of potential therapies, including scientific rationale, blood-brain barrier penetration, safety and tolerability, and evidence of efficacy in animal models or humans. This team, called the Committee to Identify Neuroprotective Agents in Parkinson's (CINAPS), solicited suggestions from scientists and clinicians in academia and industry, as well as patient and foundation groups, in order to identify as many potential therapies as possible. A Steering Committee for this trial has since selected a small number of compounds to be evaluated in pilot studies - the first of which started recruitment in May 2003. Agents that appear promising in the pilot phase will be evaluated in larger, definitive Phase III trials.

The information presented on this web site is a summary of the data gathered. An article has been published in Neurology1 which provides details on the drugs that were chosen for further evaluation/study and those that were excluded, and methods used to evaluate these compounds. The article reference is provided below with a link to the abstract.

1 Ravina BM, Fagan SC, Hart RG, Hovinga CA, Murphy DD, Dawson TM, Marler JR (2003). Neuroprotective agents for clinical trials in Parkinson's disease. Neurology. 2003 Apr 22; 60(8): 1234-1240. Abstract

Methods, Results and Compounds

Several compounds were initially identified by scientists and clinicians in government, academia and industry for evaluation but only a few were promising enough to qualify for further study in neuroprotection clinical trials. Four compounds are currently under investigation. The table below summarizes information on those compounds as well as those under consideration for future study.

Drugs Selected for Investigation In the Neuroprotection Clinical Trial

Drug Primary Mechanism
Coenzyme Q10 Antioxidant/Mitochondrial Stabilizer
Creatine Mitochondrial Stabilizer
GPI 1485 Trophic Factor
Minocycline Anti-inflammatory/Anti-apoptotic

Drugs Under Consideration for Future Study

Drug Primary Mechanism
Amantadine Glutamate Antagonist
Ascorbic Acid Antioxident
Azulenyl Nitrone Antioxidant
Caffeine Adenosine Antagonist
COX I-II Inhibitors Anti-inflammatory
Erythropoietin Undetermined/Multiple
Estrogen Undetermined/Multiple
Folate Undetermined/Multiple
GM-1 ganglioside Trophic Factor
Modafanil Unknown
N-acetyl Cysteine Antioxidant
Nicotine Unknown
Pramipexole/Ropinirole Antioxidant/Vesicular Trafficking
Rasagiline Anti-oxidant/Anti-apoptotic
Remacemide Glutamate Antagonist
Selegiline Antioxidant/Anti-apoptotic

Neuroprotection Clinical Trial Contact Information

Phone:   1-800-352-9424
Email:  cinaps@ninds.nih.gov

Last updated February 09, 2005