ON RESEARCH
RESEARCH NEWS BRIEFS
SPRING/SUMMER 2016
FDA Panel Recommends
Approval of Parkinson’s
Psychosis Drug
On March 29, 2016, an advisory committee to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voted
12-2 in favor of approval of Nuplazid, a drug for Parkinson’s disease psychosis (hallucinations
and delusions). Currently, doctors may adjust dopamine medications or prescribe antischizophrenic drugs, but those block dopamine receptors and tend to worsen motor
symptoms. Nuplazid (the compound pimavanserin) from Acadia Pharmaceuticals works on the
serotonin system, easing psychosis without worsening motor aspects of Parkinson’s disease.
Read more, including an update on the FDA’s May 1 decision, at michaeljfox.org/nuplazid.
MJFF Launches Study
of Where to Measure
Alpha-synuclein
The protein alpha-synuclein is known to clump in the brain and body cells of people with
Parkinson’s. Patients also may have altered levels of the protein in various biofluids (e.g.,
blood, spinal fluid) and tissues (e.g., skin, colon tissue). Researchers want to measure alphasynuclein to track disease and study the impact of new therapies. A new MJFF-sponsored
study (the Systemic Synuclein Sampling Study, or S4) aims to identify which biofluid or tissue
is best for this purpose by systematically analyzing samples from 60 people with PD and 20
control volunteers. The study will be carried out at seven clinical sites in the United States
and Canada. Learn more and get involved at foxtrialfinder.org.
Investing in the Next
Generation of Movement
Disorder Specialists
Two MJFF-funded efforts are expanding the global base of neurologists concentrating on
Parkinson’s care and research. The Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders —
launched in 2015 — grants funding to academic medical centers to train Parkinson’s clinicianresearchers. This year, five centers in the United States and one in Germany were selected; each
will guide one specialist through a two-year program. This spring, MJFF is also co-sponsoring,
with the Movement Disorders Society, a two-day course for neurology residents. It focuses on
common movement disorders, including PD, and allows those considering the field to learn
from international experts. Read more at michaeljfox.org/safra2016.
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