#MJFFchat Now evaluating individuals who may be at risk for #Parkinsons due to genetic factors in #ClinicalTrials for biomaker

— michaeljfox.org (@MichaelJFoxOrg) May 9, 2012

Yesterday The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research hosted the second call in our ongoing Seminar Call Series on Hot Topics in PD Research, updating the Parkinson’s community on various approaches underway to develop Parkinson’s disease-modifying therapies and discussing how biomarkers affect our ability to test these therapies.

Hosted by Michael J. Fox Foundation CEO Todd Sherer, PhD, and joined by President and Senior Scientist at the Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Ken Marek, MD, the discussion highlighted our current understanding of neurodegeneration, discussed approaches and clinical research underway in the U.S. and abroad, and addressed the challenges of testing potential therapies. Continue reading “Seminar Call Series Recap: Parkinson’s Disease-modifying Therapies and Biomarkers” »

This Parkinson’s Awareness Month was a busy one—at The Michael J. Fox Foundation and throughout the Parkinson’s community. April was filled with promising research news, innovative partnerships, surprise appearances, great media hits, key milestones, new friends and more.

The results: More people are aware of the urgent need to speed better treatments—and a cure—to patients. And they’re ready to take action.

A few of April’s highlights: Continue reading “Recapping Parkinson’s Awareness Month” »

In spring 2009, personal genetics company 23andMe announced that it would recruit 10,000 people with Parkinson’s to contribute DNA for research to illuminate the role of genetics in PD. Three years later, 7,500 people with Parkinson’s across 49 U.S. states and 26 countries have joined what has become the largest Parkinson’s community for genetic research worldwide.  23andMe researchers are making progress toward building a greater picture of the underlying causes of the disease, genetic and otherwise.

“23andMe’s unique initiative leveraging DNA technology, the Internet, and patient participation is already enhancing understanding of Parkinson’s disease,” says Todd Sherer, PhD, CEO of The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF). “Ongoing results could open new approaches to developing drugs.”

There are many reasons for conducting genetic studies tied to PD.  One is to better predict an individual’s risk for developing the disease in the long-term.   Another reason is that, by studying genetic mutations, researchers hope to better understand the molecular processes taking place during the course of PD, in both genetic and sporadic cases of the disease. This could lead to improved drugs to counteract these processes.

MJFF has been a publicity partner to the PD Research Community, helping spread the word to people with Parkinson’s about the opportunity to speed research progress by mailing in a saliva sample to 23andMe to collect the DNA it needs to analyze people’s genetics.

Today, Sherer, Michael J. Fox, and Foundation Co-Founder Debi Brooks are visiting 23andMe’s Mountain View, California offices to see the operation first hand.

“The Foundation has played a major role in research progress we’ve made to this point,” says Emily Drabant, PhD, Research Development Manager at 23andMe. “Today’s visit gives us the chance to share updates with Todd, Michael, and Debi personally — and think through opportunities to continue our fruitful collaboration.”

Read on to learn more about some of 23andMe’s advances in research.

Continue reading “Navigating the ‘Many Roads to Rome’: MJFF Partner 23andMe Drives Genetic Research Toward Drugs to Treat Parkinson’s Disease” »

Many with Parkinson’s experience depression, and it’s not just the kind of reactive depression felt by those learning of their diagnosis. In Parkinson’s disease (PD), this symptom can be caused by the biological processes associated with what is happening during the disease course.

Physicians have long prescribed antidepressants for Parkinson’s patients. But since the nature of depression in PD has its own unique causes, questions continually arise as to whether certain antidepressants are actually right for people with the disease. To date, doctors have had to largely base their understandings of what works and what doesn’t work on observational evidence from what they’ve seen in their own practice, an inexact science at best.

Study of Antidepressants in Parkinson’s disease or SAD-PD, a first-of-its-kind study published in the medical journal Neurology, has found that two common antidepressants ease depression in people with PD without aggravating motor symptoms. The drugs tested in the study, led by Irene Hegeman Richard, MD, of the University of Rochester, were paroxetine (brand name Paxil) and venlafaxine extended release (brand name Effexor XR).

Richard’s team, which included investigators from 20 different university sites throughout North America, performed a three-month double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial for depression, funded by the National Institutes of Health. They found that those taking either drug experienced a significantly greater improvement in symptoms related to depression versus those taking a placebo pill.

Read more of the results here.

The long, strange ride continues for Northera, Chelsea Therapeutics’ candidate to treat orthostatic hypotension in Parkinson’s and other diseases, which was recently denied approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  Those living with orthostatic hypotension —  a sudden drop in blood pressure when standing up, which can cause dizziness, falls and injury — will have to continue to wait for a drug after the PD community’s hopes were raised when an advisory committee recommended approving the drug.

Northera is the brand name for droxidopa, which has been approved to treat orthostatic hypotension in Japan since 1989.  In mid-February, Chelsea voluntarily released news of safety concerns about the drug (a highly unusual move) and the company lost a third of its market value in the wake of that first announcement.  Then, just two days later, an FDA advisory committee recommended that the FDA approve the drug.

Following the advisory committee decision in late February which had ruled 7-4 in favor of Northera being approved, there was speculation that the committee may have been willing to tolerate a somewhat higher level of risk regarding safety given that there was no available treatment for orthostatic hypotension.  Usually, FDA rules in line with advisory committee recommendations.  Not this time.

While the latest decision is clearly not what Chelsea was hoping for, the door may not be completely closed on Northera.  The FDA has asked for additional efficacy data from an ongoing clinical trial studying the effect of Northera in Treatment of Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension in Patients With PD.

Read more from the Chelsea press release.

The 2012 Seminar Call Series on Hot Topics in Parkinson’s disease kicked off last week. Our inaugural session focused on the topic “How Do We Get to Cures and Clinical Trials 101,” led by Mark Frasier, PhD, Vice President of Research Programs at The Michael J. Fox Foundation and David Weiner, MD, Scientific Advisory Board Member for The Michael J. Fox Foundation.Dr. Frasier introduced the Foundation’s role in moving research forward, and Dr. Weiner offered a detailed illustration of the drug development pipeline in Parkinson’s disease and how clinical trials – and the role that the PD Community plays in them – are necessary to accelerate new drugs out of the lab and onto our pharmacy shelves. Continue reading “Seminar Call Series Kicks Off with “How Do We Get to Cures?”” »

For Team Fox marathoner Peter Bleiberg, participating in a clinical trial is an important opportunity — and, he feels, an obligation. So in the four years since his Parkinson’s diagnosis, he’s already taken part in three trials and is looking forward to creating his profile on Fox Trial Finder.

Peter’s diagnosis marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life, and a new challenge. Inspired to do whatever he could to help other Parkinson’s patients, he joined Team Fox and has run the Boston Marathon three times to raise funds for The Michael J. Fox Foundation. In addition to his six to 20 hours of training every week, he encourages people to get involved, especially through clinical trials. Continue reading “Running Toward a Cure: In the Clinic and on the Course” »

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research is excited to kick off our 2012 Seminar Call Series. Join us and leading experts in the field to learn more about relevant Parkinson’s disease topics and Foundation news with our Seminar Call Series. Listen in for one or join them all – choose the topics that interest you. See the calendar of scheduled calls below and RSVP to hottopics@michaeljfox.org to confirm your attendance. Follow along on Twitter with hashtag #MJFFChat.  Continue reading “The 2012 Michael J. Fox Foundation Seminar Call Series” »

We’re excited to launch our new video series, Ask the MD, featuring The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s staff Neurologist and Movement Disorder Specialist, Maurizio Facheris, MD. Do you have a question for Maurizio? Share it with us in the comments below to be featured in an upcoming video.

Continue reading “Ask the MD: Is there a diet recommended for Parkinson’s disease?” »

While levodopa is the gold standard therapy for Parkinson’s disease (PD), current delivery methods have their limitations. Many patients who take it experience “off” periods, when the medication’s effects wear off before they are ready to take their next dose, leaving them in a state where symptoms like lack of mobility may return.  Those taking levodopa also risk developing dyskinesias, the excessive and uncontrollable movements that are among the most difficult aspects of the disease to manage.

But finding a more consistent method of delivering levodopa could help to minimize both “off” periods and dyskinesias alike. Continue reading “Podcast: Limiting On-Off Periods in Parkinson’s Medications” »