Is Exenatide Neuroprotective in Parkinson Disease?

A clinical trial suggests a benefit, but a larger trial is needed.

Exenatide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)–receptor agonist used in diabetes that has been suggested as a candidate for a disease-modifying drug in Parkinson disease (PD). The investigators performed a single-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, randomizing 62 PD patients to receive either 2 mg of exenatide injected subcutaneously (32 patients) or placebo injections (30 patients) weekly for 48 weeks, followed by a 12-week washout period. Participants remained on stable doses of their dopaminergic and nondopaminergic medications. The study targeted moderate-stage, levodopa-responsive PD patients who had wearing off of their dopaminergic drugs. The primary outcome was the difference in scores on the Movement Disorders Society U…

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)