Could the GLP-1 Drug Lixisenatide Be Disease Modifying in Parkinson Disease?

A phase 2 trial is likely to stir debate about the potential neuroprotective effects of this treatment.

Some evidence suggests that type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance increase risk for Parkinson disease (PD) and that glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, used to treat type 2 diabetes, may reduce the risk for PD. Now, researchers have conducted a phase 2, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of the GLP-1 receptor agonist lixisenatide (approved to treat type 2 diabetes) in a cohort of patients with early PD (<3 years) treated with dopaminergic therapy. The 156 participants were randomly assigned 1:1 to daily subcutaneous lixisenatide or placebo for 12 months followed by a 2-month washout period. The primary outcome was change from baseline on the Movement Disorder Society–Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (…

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)