Pages

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Blood pressure medication for Parkinson's



Posted: Friday, January 16, 2015 11:15 am | Updated: 4:48 pm, Fri Jan 16, 2015.

Dr. David Higgins lives a busy and active life.
But a few years ago, some mysterious symptoms threatened to slow him down.

“I was having trouble swimming, and I was having trouble running,” David Higgins said.
“Stiffness, soreness, lack of control,” Higgins explained.
David was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, a disease that affects movement.
Higgins said, “It does not make me feel good about the future.”
But neurologist Irene Litvan says the future is looking brighter for people like David. She’s studying a new therapy for Parkinson’s that’s already being used to treat high blood pressure
“So the good thing is multiple people have taken it,” Irene Litvan, M.D., Professor of Neurology at UC San Diego Department of Neural Science and Director of the Movement Disorder Center said.
Isradipine works by blocking calcium channels in the body. Researchers believe calcium may be overexpressed in people with Parkinson’s. Animal studies show calcium blockers may slow Parkinson’s, and people who take the drug for high blood pressure are less likely to develop the disease.
“Hopefully, it will slow the progression of the disease, and ideally, it would stop the progression of the disease,” said Dr. Litvan.
A Phase II study found it was safe to use in Parkinson’s patients. Now, a larger trial will determine if isradipine can slow the disease. David is hopeful.
“There is hope for more effective therapies and perhaps even a cure,” said Higgins.
Until then, he’ll stay as active as he can for as long as he can.
Dr. Litvan says patients would probably have to take the medication for the rest of their lives to benefit. Researchers are still enrolling patients in this clinical trial.


http://health.einnews.com/article/244824450/b8fl0dO5C-83Fcwh

Thursday, January 15, 2015

The Victory Summit Symposium Saturday, February 7, 2015,Las Vegas, NV




The Victory Summit Symposium - Saturday, February 7, 2015, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at the UNLV Student Union at 4505 S Maryland Pwky, Las Vegas, NV 89154 - REGISTER HERE.
The Davis Phinney Foundation will hold a national event in Las Vegas, NV to energize, connect and unify the region’s Parkinson’s community. The University of Nevada School of Medicine statistics estimate more than 12,000 people are living with Parkinson’s disease in the Las Vegas metro area. So, this summit comes at a much needed time.
The Davis Phinney Foundation (whose namesake is the 1984 Olympic medalist and former pro cyclist, diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s in 2000 at age 40) Victory Summit in February will bring together internationally, nationally and locally recognized movement disorder experts to share the latest on research and treatments along with practical tools for living well today with Parkinson’s in the region. The event is free for every and anyone (although you do have to register).
People living with Parkinson’s, their care partners and family members are encouraged to come to the February 7th event. “Join us for an uplifting day of connection and community that will be filled with laughter, movement and memorable speakers. You’ll come away with a wealth of practical information about living well with Parkinson’s and with invaluable resources available to you in Nevada,” says Davis Phinney.
“I believe so strongly in what Davis Phinney Foundation’s mantra of “Live Well Today” and just want to share it with everybody in our community,” says Cidney Donahoo.
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease nearly five years ago, this active Las Vegas area cyclist says the coming together of the Parkinson’s community in the area will create irreplaceable community bonds. “We need everyone to get out of the house, share a common experience, meet and strengthen the continuity of care in our community. Information and relationships are key to positivity and moving forward with life on a daily basis. “
The Victory Summit symposium will be held on Saturday, February 7, 2015, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at the UNLV Student Union at 4505 S Maryland Pwky, Las Vegas, NV 89154. This event is presented in partnership with the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.
“The collaboration at The Victory Summit is an opportunity for the Parkinson’s community, including patients, caregivers and health professionals to come under one roof to discuss and improve on the best practices to treat and care for these patients,” says Dr. Ryan Walsh,
Director of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Program, Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. “It is crucial to always be striving to improve the quality of life of those affected with Parkinson’s, both for caregivers and those with the disease.” This unique, interactive event will motivate attendees to take action and create a better quality of life for themselves now. Attendees will find information, inspiration and tools for living well at all ages and stages of Parkinson’s.
One attendee of The Victory Summit event in Jacksonville, Florida in January says, “I wasn’t feeling great that morning, which made it harder to get there, but it was worth it. The Victory Summit changed my life. My fears and hesitations subsided with the genuine camaraderie and support from others affected by Parkinson’s and the knowledge of how improve the way that I am living with Parkinson’s.”
Jamillah Ali-Rahman, Executive Director of the Friends of Parkinson’s of Las Vegas, says that is why her organization is lending its support. “We want to create a coalition and a collaborative effort and serve as an information resource center for anyone in the area’s Parkinson’s community. We love the concept of “living well today” and we want to be there to support everyone in the community.”
The Victory Summit – Las Vegas Highlights to Include:
  • Joanne Hamilton, PhD, Advanced Neurobehavioral Health of Southern California on cognitive and non-motor symptoms
  • Matt Ford, PT, PhD, Samford University on exercise
  • Melanie Brandabur, MD, The Parkinson’s Institute on living well
  • Peter Wayne, PhD, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA on quality of life research
  • Davis Phinney, cycling legend, founder of the Davis Phinney Foundation and Parkinson’s advocate – “Moments of Victory “
  • Breakout Session Topics
  • Deep Brain Stimulation, Strategies for the Care Partner, Pain, Fall Prevention, Sleep
  • Disturbances, Managing Mood and Depression
  • Interactive movement breaks and exercise sessions
Register here or for more information, visit the website: www.davisphinneyfoundation.org.

Huntsville company developing new Parkinson's medication



"If you want that drug to come off very slowly, we can use our chemistry to plan the release of that and that's what we've done with our Parkinson's drug."

Huntsville biotech company is trying to change the way those with Parkinson's disease and restless leg syndrome receive their medicine. Serina TheraputicsCEO/president Randall Moreadith says his company's polymer patent allows drugs to last much longer.
"If you want that drug to come off very slowly, we can use our chemistry to plan the release of that and that's what we've done with our Parkinson's drug."
Their drug, SER-214, will be administered much differently than current 
medications. One of the more common Parkinson's medications, Levodopa, has
been one of the primary ways of treatment for decades, but the side effects include dyskinesia, a movement disorder characterized by involuntary muscle movements. Moreadith hopes SER-214 will be not only more effective in treatment, but also more effective in limiting some of the drawbacks which come with Levodopa. 
"The drug that's attached to the polymer is a very potent drug to treat the symptoms and signs of Parkinson's disease," Moreadith says, "and patients will be able to take this once a week in a standard insulin syringe."
Serina has benefited from a recent $5 million dollar private donation. This funding will help the company move forward toward their next goal -- human clinical trials.
"We'll start that clinical trial around the beginning of the year," Moreadith says, "We'll begin the trial in patients that have Parkinson's Disease so we can determine if the drug actually does work."
Moreadith believes the generous locally-funded donations show this community wants Huntsville to become the premier location in biotech.
"The community here wants Northern Alabama to be at the forefront in terms of biotechnology in the next decade," Moreadith says.
Serina currently has a partnership with pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, and one of their main goals is to have a major company acquire them, which would be a major benefit to current shareholders.
Serina Therapeutics is a privately held pharmaceutical company located at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology.

http://www.waaytv.com/tech_alabama/huntsville-company-developing-new-parkinson-s-medication/article_7dcb5b28-9c24-11e4-b1b0-673c8e491839.html#.VLgkH6NqRV8.gmail

Southern University becomes 1 of 3 to have SpeechVive device for people with Parkinson's


Thursday, January 15, 2015Posted: Jan 14, 2015 1:47 PM ESTUpdated: Jan 14, 2015 1:47 PM EST

SpeechVive revives speech and improves everyday communication and quality of life to people with Parkinson's disease (Source: WAFB) onon email
SpeechVive revives speech and improves everyday communication and quality of life to people with Parkinson's disease (Source: WAFB)
BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) -
In speech therapy circles, only a few universities have the SpeechVive Device: Baylor University in Waco, TX, University of Florida in Gainesville, and now Southern University in Baton Rouge.
"The community can come here on our campus and receive the services via the SpeechVive that would undoubtedly improve their speech language skills and overall communications," said Tamala Hutchinson. She is about to graduate with a Masters degree in speech and language therapy.
The company's donations of SpeechVive equipment means students will learn by helping people with Parkinson's check out the device at Southern University to see if that technology will work to help them better speak.
SpeechVive detects when the patient is speaking using an accelerometer which is built into the earpiece. During speech, the device plays a background sound into the user's ear. The background sound, which resembles a room full of people talking during a party, is a natural cue that elicits louder and clearer speech through an involuntary reflex known as the Lombard Effect.

http://www.wafb.com/story/27849695/southern-university-becomes-1-of-3-to-have-speechvive-device-for-people-with-parkinsons

SpeechVive

SpeechVive
Chronic neurologic diseases, such as Parkinson's disease are debilitating conditions which progress over time. While the physical symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease are easily recognized by the general public, the decrease in communicative ability associated with Parkinson’s disease is an often overlooked symptom, which affects a majority of this population. Boxing legend Muhammad Ali is an example of how Parkinson’s disease can affect a patient's speech pattern. This speech condition, known as hypokinetic dysathria, is characterized by reduced vocal volume, impaired speech rate and diminished articulation.

How SpeechVive Works
SpeechVive detects when the patient is speaking using an accelerometer which is built into the earpiece. During speech, the device plays a background sound into the user's ear. The background sound, which resembles a room full of people talking during a party, is a natural cue that elicits louder and clearer speech through an involuntary reflex known as the Lombard Effect.

SpeechVive is designed to elicit improved speech clarity without placing cognitive demand on the patient. SpeechVive does not require training or behavioral modification and may immediately improve a patient's speech clarity, by altering volume, articulation or speech rate.

When a patient is not speaking, the SpeechVive device turns off the background sound, which enhances the patient's ability to hear and communicate effectively.

Am I a good candidate for SpeechVive?
A good SpeechVive candidate will have a diagnosis of Parkinson Disease and will have experienced changes in their voice that may include; decreased volume, increased rate, or poor articulation. Others may perceive your speech as too soft, too rushed, or mumbled.

SpeechVive has been proven to increase clarity and volume for patients who have had DBS and who have already completed a speech therapy program. SpeechVive does not require the wearer to think about their speech so it works well with wearers who may experience cognitive decline.

SpeechVive prompts the user to speak at an increased volume every time they speak. This means that the SpeechVive user practices strengthening their voice each time they speak with the device on. People who do not want to wear a device in their ear will not make good SpeechVive candidates. People who rarely speak or are not willing to talk with others while wearing the device will not make good SpeechVive candidates.

When people speak in a true whisper they are only using their breath to make sounds and their vocal cords don't vibrate. In order for the SpeechVive device to work you must have some vocal cord movement. People who are unable to speak above a whisper are therefore not good candidates for SpeechVive. If you cannot speak above a whisper your speech-language pathologist can use a different technique to help you.

I already wear a hearing aid. Can I still use SpeechVive?
If you wear one hearing aid you may wear the device in your other ear. If you wear two hearing aids you may still use the device but will have to take one of your hearing aids out.


Your speech-language pathologist can further help you determine if SpeechVive is the best therapeutic approach for you. If you still have questions or you would like assistance finding a SpeechVive trained clinician, please email us at: mfonseca@speechvive.com

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Michael J. Fox treated Parkinson's with brain drilling procedure, reveals neurologist



Actor Michael J. Fox had holes drilled into his brain as part of his treatment for Parkinson's Disease, according to one of his doctors.
Harvard Medical School neurologist Allan Ropper talked about the "highly successful" procedure during an interview with BBC’s Radio Five Live on Monday (January 12), admitting he "took a lot of heat for it, because it was not a conventional procedure."
According to Ropper, author of the book, Reaching Down the Rabbit Hole: A Renowned Neurologist Explains the Mystery and Drama of Brain Diseasethe treatment purposely causes small strokes in the patient's brain, which can "kill" tremors.
“We know from accidents by an ancient neurosurgeon, by which I mean 40 years ago, that small strokes in a particular part of the brain stop the tremor of Parkinson’s," Ropper explained. “It was an accidental observation. After that, the Swedes began to make holes with little instruments in those places. That’s what we did. We made a little hole in the thalamus, killed the tremor, dead."
Fox was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson's disease in 1992 and went public with his diagnosis in 1998.
“Some people with Parkinson’s who start with a tremor and who are young at the onset, ironically, do extremely well in the long run," Ropper told the BBC. “One would have thought the opposite, that if you’re young when you get it, you’ll be worse off.
In 2007, Straight contributor Rex Moore wrote an account of a similar experience he had. Also diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, Moore underwent Deep Brain Stimulation surgery, during which electrodes were put into his brain while he was awake and later attached to a stimulator implanted in his chest. ("Trust me, you do not want to ever feel the vibrations of a drill digging deep into your soul or recall the smell from your smoking skull," Moore wrote about the surgery.) 
As Ropper noted in the BBC interview, "There are more modern techniques now which are stimulators, but as outlined in the book, Mr. Fox did not want the contraption."

http://health.einnews.com/article/244280923/B7UrhHVLJps4mpp1

Monday, January 12, 2015

FDA Approves Revolutionary Parkinson's Treatment and NPF is Helping Deliver It to You

National Parkinson Foundation - Breaking News
FDA Approves Revolutionary Parkinson's Treatment
and NPF is Helping Deliver It to You
The National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) is pleased to share that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved DUOPA™, developed by AbbVie Inc., as a treatment for people with advanced Parkinson's disease. DUOPA™ is a new approach to the delivery of carbidopa and levodopa for the treatment of the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease; it is administered using a small, portable infusion pump that delivers carbidopa and levodopa directly into the small intestine.

Key Highlights about DUOPA™: 
  • DUOPA™ is the first and only treatment providing 16 continuous hours of carbidopa and levodopa for motor symptoms in advanced PD.
  • In a clinical trial, patients treated with DUOPA™ experienced significantly greater improvement in "off" time than patients treated with oral carbidopa-levodopa immediate release tablets. 
"The approval of the dopamine pump for the treatment of Parkinson's disease is a huge step forward for treatment of Parkinson's disease patients suffering from motor fluctuations and other disabling symptoms.,"said Dr. Michael S. Okun, NPF's National Medical Director. "We are very enthusiastic about this advance being made available to patients all over the United States."

"Due to the progressive nature of Parkinson's disease, it can be difficult to treat over time, especially in the advanced stages," said Joyce Oberdorf, NPF's President and CEO. "Our organization is encouraged by the introduction of a new therapy that may provide another treatment option for affected patients and families."

NPF is collaborating with AbbVie in the development and delivery of comprehensive training programs on DUOPA™ for NPF Centers of Excellence (COEs). NPF considers AbbVie's DUOPA™ product to be an important tool to address unmet clinical needs for advanced Parkinson’s patients. The one-day trainings will be held in the first quarter of 2015 to ensure COEs are among the first sites to be trained.  The trainings will include hands-on sessions to provide a strong foundation for key stakeholders involved in managing treatment with DUOPA™.
This news comes on the heels of last week's FDA approval of RYTARY™ (carbidopa and levodopa) extended-release capsules. If you have questions about either of these newly-approved Parkinson's treatments, NPF's Helpline is available at 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636) or helpline@parkinson.org.

AbbVie get Parkinson's drug clearance


Monday, January 12 14:10:55
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved AbbVie's treatment for Parkinson's disease, three months ahead of the scheduled review date.
The treatment, Duopa - a combination of carbidopa and levodopa - is the first to be effective for 16 hours, compared with existing oral formulations that last for up to four hours following a single dose.
Duopa, already available in Canada, is administered using a small portable infusion pump that delivers the drug directly to the small intestine.
AbbVie shares were up 1 percent in premarket trading.
Parkinson's disease is characterized by reduced levels of the hormone dopamine in the brain, which leads to poor mobility, slowness and stiffness.
Nearly all patients diagnosed with the disease are treated with levodopa. The effectiveness of oral levodopa, however, is limited by its short half-life. Excessive oral doses often lead to involuntary movements, or dyskinesia.
Last week, the FDA approved Impax Laboratories Inc's Parkinson's drug, Rytary, after rejecting it twice.
Other companies developing drugs for the disease include NeuroDerm Ltd, Acorda Therapeutics Inc and Cynapsus Therapeutics.
About 1 million Americans live with Parkinson's disease - more than the number of people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and Lou Gehrig's disease combined, according to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation. (Reuters)
For more visit www.businessworld.ie
http://health.einnews.com/article/243960029/I2MwmmSwYYeuKnnT

Auspex Pharmaceuticals Announces SD-1077 Program for the Potential Treatment of Parkinson's Disease and Related Movement Disorders

Auspex to Acquire Remaining Worldwide Rights to SD-1077 Through Purchase of Imphar AG
Clinical Proof-Of-Concept Data for SD-1077 Versus Levodopa Expected in 2016
LA JOLLA, Calif., Jan. 12, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Auspex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:ASPX), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing innovative medicines for people with movement disorders and rare diseases, today announced that it has been developing SD-1077, a deuterium containing levodopa, in collaboration with Imphar AG, a private German-based drug development company, and it has entered into a share purchase agreement to acquire the remaining rights to SD-1077, and related intellectual property, through the acquisition of Imphar AG. Imphar AG had previously granted Auspex exclusive U.S. and select worldwide rights and retained European and additional worldwide rights, all of which will be transferred to Auspex, along with the related intellectual property, pursuant to the share purchase agreement, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The research conducted by Imphar was funded in part by a grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
"Moving forward with SD-1077 adds to the strength of our movement disorder pipeline behind our SD-809 lead program," said Pratik Shah, president and chief executive officer, Auspex. "Based on strong preclinical data and scientific principles, we believe that SD-1077 has significant potential to treat this debilitating disorder which currently has limited effective options. We look forward to continuing to work with the scientists at Imphar and expect to advance SD-1077 into clinical development this year and announce proof-of-concept data in 2016."
SD-1077, an investigational new drug for the potential treatment of Parkinson's disease, has been shown in preclinical models to improve the half-life of dopamine in the brain resulting in a prolonged treatment effect. Auspex is advancing SD-1077 through preclinical studies in preparation for initiation of clinical development by the end of 2015. Data from the clinical studies are expected in 2016.
"Auspex and Imphar AG have had a fruitful collaboration," said Dr. Giesbert Alken, founder and chairman, Imphar AG. "We believe Auspex's expertise in neurological diseases, coupled with its strong leadership team, will be able to accelerate SD-1077 clinical development for the benefit of patients living with Parkinson's disease around the world."
Parkinson's disease affects one million people in the United States, and seven to 10 million people worldwide. Levodopa is considered the current gold standard for the symptomatic treatment of Parkinson's disease. However, the short half-life of levodopa results in dosing multiple times daily, as well as the development of dyskinesia, an involuntary and potentially severely debilitating movement disorder, in 30 to 80 percent of patients within a few years of treatment. SD-1077, a selective deuterium substituted form of levodopa, can potentially improve the half-life of the resulting dopamine in the brain and prolong the anti-parkinsonian effect. These properties of SD-1077 may enable less frequent dosing, a reduction in the daily dose of levodopa and a reduction in the development of dyskinesias and other motor complications of Parkinson's disease.
"Extending the clinical benefit provided by levodopa remains a critical need in the treatment of Parkinson's disease," said Robert A. Hauser, M.D., MBA, Director of the Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center at the University of South Florida. "We need simple, easily administered medications that can be dosed just a few times daily that will provide sustained benefit through the day even as the disease progresses. A deuterium-containing levodopa represents a novel mechanism to extend the benefit of medication-derived dopamine in the brain. This effect has been demonstrated in animal models of Parkinson's disease and, if confirmed in patients, could provide a significant therapeutic advance."
About Auspex Pharmaceuticals
Auspex Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing innovative medicines for hyperkinetic movement disorders and other rare diseases. Auspex employs its proprietary technology to create patent-protected, new chemical entities from known, clinically proven pharmacologics. The company's lead product SD-809 is in the final stages of development for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington's disease, a neurodegenerative movement disorder that impacts cognition, behavior and movements. In addition, Auspex is investing in the broad potential of SD-809 for the treatment of other movement disorders, including tardive dyskinesia and tics associated with Tourette syndrome. The company's pipeline also includes SD-560, which is being developed for potentially treating fibrotic conditions, and SD-1077 for the potential treatment of Parkinson's disease. For further information, please visit the company's website www.auspexpharma.com.
Forward-Looking Statements 
Statements made in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Auspex's ability to successfully complete its ongoing clinical trials and development programs, Auspex's ability to obtain regulatory approval for its product candidates and market penetration and acceptance of its product candidates. Risks that contribute to the uncertain nature of the forward-looking statements include: Auspex's future preclinical studies and clinical trials may not be successful; changes in regulatory requirements in the United States and foreign countries may prevent or significantly delay regulatory approval of Auspex's product candidates; Auspex may change its plans to develop and commercialize its product candidates; the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may not agree with Auspex's interpretation of the data from clinical trials of its product candidates; Auspex may decide, or the FDA may require Auspex, to conduct additional clinical trials or to modify Auspex's ongoing clinical trials; Auspex may experience delays in the commencement, enrollment, completion or analysis of clinical testing for its product candidates, or significant issues regarding the adequacy of its clinical trial designs or the execution of its clinical trials, which could result in increased costs and delays, or limit Auspex's ability to obtain regulatory approval; the third parties with whom Auspex has partnered for the development of its product candidates and upon whom Auspex relies to conduct its clinical trials and manufacture its product candidates may not perform as expected; Auspex's product candidates may not receive regulatory approval or be successfully commercialized; unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy of Auspex's product candidates could delay or prevent regulatory approval or commercialization; Auspex may be unable to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for its product candidates; the loss of key scientific or management personnel; Auspex's ability to obtain additional financing; and the accuracy of Auspex's estimates regarding expenses, future revenues and capital requirements. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Other risks and uncertainties affecting Auspex are described more fully in Auspex's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Auspex undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

CONTACT: For Media:
         Dan Budwick, Pure Communications, Inc.
         dan@purecommunicationsinc.com
         (973) 271-6085
         
         For Investors:
         Monique Allaire Lyons, Pure Communications, Inc.
         monique@purecommunicationsinc.com
         (617) 895-9511