Parkinson's and diabetes drugs hold promise

An Auckland Island pig in the secret facility near Invercarg

BRIAR BABINGTON

Last updated 18:16, March 7 2016

A new drug designed to help stop the progression of Parkinson's could be on the market next year, with provisional consent, its developers say.

Parkinson's drug NTCELL, is being developed by Living Cell Technologies (LCT) in Auckland and Type 1 Diabetes drug DIABECELL is being developed by Diatranz Otsuka Ltd (DOL).

LCT is a shareholder in DOL and both companies are using the pigs, that are housed in Invercargill and Auckland, to create life-altering drugs.

Both drugs are not a cure, but it is hoped NTCELL will stop the progression of Parkinson's and regenerate affected nerve cells in the brain, and DIABECELL is hoped to restore the ability to control blood glucose.

Neurologist and principle investigator for NTCELL Dr Barry Snow said patients had had a "meaningful reaction" in their phase 1 and IIa studies, and would be moving on to phase IIb in the coming weeks, subject to approval from the regulatory body Medsafe.

READ MORE: Pig cell Parkinson's trial approved

"It's a very careful step-by-step process that's monitored by regulatory bodies to make sure our patients are looked after," he said.

The study, led by Snow at Auckland City hospital, will use more patients in its IIb phase where Parkinson's is less advanced than in patients from their earlier trials.

The NTCELL treatment works by implanted encapsulated pig brain cells into the area of the patient's brain where Parkinson's is causing nerve cell degeneration.

LCT chief executive Dr Ken Taylor said safety and efficacy in phase 1 and phase IIa had been of the utmost importance.

Taylor said provided phase IIb went well and safety and efficacy were proved, the third trial would be a "provisional treatment" where NTCELL would be on the market but LCT would need to keep updating Medsafe and providing them with the number of patients using the drug.

He hoped this would be available on the market in 2017, with provisional consent.

Both drugs have used New Zealanders in their drug trials, however DIABECELL's third phase of research has moved to the US.

DOL general manager Shaun Wynyard said since DIABECELL's initial trials, the drug had "increased its efficacy and decreased any side effects".

"Currently, the most significant patient benefits are a reduction in dangerous unaware hypoglycaemia, which is when a person with type 1 diabetes blood sugar falls dangerously low without them knowing," he said.

Wynyard said they had also seen a reduction in insulin dose for the patients, which signalled that the patient's ability to regulate their glucose is improved as a result of the DIABECELL implant.

DIABECELL trials would continue in its third phase in the US because it was a bigger and commercially favourable market. It was also harder to recruit New Zealand patients with type 1 diabetes, because of the smaller population, Wynyard said.

http://health.einnews.com/article/315225939/wYyQe46nkEPZ_KkQ