Parkinson’s Therapeutics Reviewed by NeuroInvestment

CARDIFF, CA--(Marketwire - March 02, 2011) -

NI Research has released the March issue of NeuroInvestment, which reviews the status and prospects of therapeutics for Parkinson’s.

The current pharmacopoeia for PD is extremely limited in its scope and duration of utility. Symptoms can be attenuated, but over time, there is a price to be paid, as L-dopa related dyskinesias eventually emerge for many patients. Drugs under development include a number that are aimed at improving the cost-benefit profile of symptom reduction (e.g. Cynapsus, Addex, Santhera, Targacept (NASDAQ: TRGT)), and other targeting ancillary symptoms, like psychosis (Acadia Pharmaceuticals).

As is the case with all neurodegenerative disorders, the goal is to move beyond symptom-relief to disease-modification. Parkinson’s is the venue where neuroscience has often focused its most daringly innovative programs, and that continues to be the case, with programs featuring gene and/or cell therapy (Ceregene, Neurologix, Amsterdam Molecular, Oxford Biomedica) in or nearing clinical testing. The misfolded protein theory that has been at the core of many Alzheimer’s programs has its place in PD, where many sophisticated approaches to alpha-synuclein pathology are in development (Link Medicine, Proteostasis, NeuroPhage, reMYND/Roche, Biogen-Idec/Neurimmune). LRRK is an intriguing target being addressed by Lundbeck/Zenobia and TauTaTis. Adenosine 2a antagonism is being pursued by Merck, Domain Therapeutics, Heptares, and Psychogenics. Alternatively, accentuating neuroprotection and/or regenerative capacity via trophic upregulation is the goal of programs from NeuroNova, MedGenesis, Allon Therapeutics, and Cortex.

The March issue of NeuroInvestment includes pointed appraisals of the M&A transactions involving Sanofi-Aventis/Genzyme and Forest/Clinical Data. Neither of these deals sets the stage for progress towards improved CNS therapeutics. Implications of Tysabri’s burgeoning PML case-rate and the pilot clinical data for Cortex (OTCBB: CORX) in sleep apnea are also discussed. The March issue includes a brief review of the Belgian neuroscience company reMYND.

About NeuroInvestment: NeuroInvestment is the independent, monthly review of the neurotherapeutics area. A one-year subscription is $2100, email or hardcopy. Add $250 for dual delivery, add $50 for airmail delivery outside North America. A three-month trial subscription is US$700. The Parkinson’s issue is available as a single-issue purchase for $400.

A recent sample issue of NeuroInvestment is available for download at: http://www.neuroinvestment.com/NewPublications.html

NI Research is the leading publisher of independent research on the neuropharmaceutical/therapeutic industry. NI Research has published NeuroInvestment since 1995; the Private CNS Company Review since 2003; and CNS Disorders/Therapeutics, an annual compendium of all neuro-oriented R&D programs, since 2007.

NI Research has developed an unmatched information base regarding both publicly and privately held neuro-oriented companies, and offers M&A/licensing consultation and research for large and small pharmaceutical firms.