A drug known for treating diabetes has been found to be an effective treatment for Parkinson’s disease. A drug known as MSDC-0160, initially designed for treating diabetes, may be the breakthrough drug for Parkinson’s disease many researchers have been looking for. This is according to the initial findings of researchers from the Van Andel Research Institute’s Center for Neurodegenerative Science located in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Parkinson’s disease is a condition that affects the central nervous system and can cause a number of motor symptoms, which can develop gradually over age. It is estimated that over 10 million people all over the world are living with the said disease. Unfortunately, this disease still has no cure. Whatever drugs are there available can only address the symptoms of the disease. The new finding my herald a breakthrough in finally finding a cure for Parkinson’s.
The drug MSDC-0160 is an insulin sensitizer created to treat type 2 diabetes. The drug has already been proven safe for humans. Repurposing drug treatments may offer a more convenient approach for researchers to find and discover treatments for other diseases that will take a faster approval route. In the case of MSDC-0160, approval time for use in treating Parkinson’s may be shorter with patients that need it able to take advantage of the new treatments. The MSDC-0160 acts as a regulator of mitochondrial function, the powerhouses in cells that convert nutrients into usable energy. The drug helps restore the brain cells ability to create usable energy. Once that happens, it also improves the cell’s ability to handle the buildup of harmful proteins, reducing inflammation as well as brain cell death.
If clinical trials for treating Parkinson’s disease are successful, the finding will be a huge step forward for discovering a cure for the said disease.
Source: Medical News Today