More Evidence That Neurturin Does Not Address the Motor Symptoms of Parkinson Disease

Bilateral injection of neurturin into the substantia nigra and putamen showed no benefit in patients with advanced disease.

There has been surging interest in the use of neurotrophic factors for the treatment of Parkinson disease. In a double-blind industry-funded trial, researchers assessed the effects of bilateral injections of the neurotrophic factor neurturin into both the substantia nigra and putamen regions of the brain. An adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV2) vector was used to deliver neurturin.

Fifty-one patients with advanced Parkinson disease were randomized to active treatment or sham surgery. At 15 months, the mean change from baseline in the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale motor subscore when off medications (the primary outcome) did not differ between the two groups. The procedure was well tolerated; however, two patients had brain hemorrh…

Reviewing Author

Michael S. Okun, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardParkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America

Speaker’s BureauMedscape/WebMD CME, Movement Disorders Society CME, American Academy of Neurology CME

RoyaltiesBooks4Patients; Demos; Cambridge; Taylor and Francis; Robert Rose; Public Affairs

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health; Parkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America; University of Florida Foundation

Editorial BoardsTremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements; JAMA Neurology

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesParkinson’s Foundation (Medical Advisor)