Parkinson's Disease (PD)
The treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) still faces major challenges, including limited blood-brain barrier penetration and disease heterogeneity. Leveraging our pioneering efforts in PD research, Protheragen is at the forefront of developing cutting-edge therapies to enhance the effective management of PD. As your trusted partner in PD drug development research, we provide unparalleled support to meet your research needs.
Overview of Parkinson's Disease (PD)
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's disease, affecting 1% of the population over 60 years old. Clinically, PD is characterized by motor symptoms (bradykinesia, resting tremor, rigidity, postural instability) and non-motor symptoms (cognitive impairment, autonomic dysfunction, sleep disorders, depression). The disease follows a progressive course, with worsening disability over 5-20 years due to relentless neurodegeneration.
Fig.1 Overview of Parkinson's disease (PD) pathology. (Klokkaris A, Migdalska-Richards A., 2024)
Pathogenesis of Parkinson's Disease (PD)
The pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) primarily involves the progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, driven by three interconnected mechanisms: (1) abnormal accumulation and prion-like spread of misfolded α-synuclein forming Lewy bodies, (2) mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress due to impaired complex I activity and defective mitophagy (PINK1/PARKIN pathway), and (3) neuroinflammation mediated by chronically activated microglia releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Fig.2 Pathological mechanisms involved in Parkinson's disease (PD). (da Silva L P D, et al., 2024)
Therapeutic Development for Parkinson's Disease (PD)
| Drug Names | Mechanism of Action | Targets | NCT Number | Research Phase |
| ABBV-951 | Converts to levodopa/carbidopa in subcutaneous tissue for stable dopamine replacement | Aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC); striatal dopamine receptors | NCT03781167 | Phase III |
| TB006 | Binds and neutralizes toxic oligomers of α-synuclein to prevent neuronal spread | Pathological protein aggregates (oligomeric α-synuclein) | NCT06773962 | Phase IIa |
| BIA 9-1067 | Prolongs levodopa effect by blocking dopamine catabolism in periphery and CNS | Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT); monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) | NCT02071810 | Phase III |
Disclaimer: Protheragen focuses on providing preclinical research services. This table is for information exchange purposes only. This table is not a treatment plan recommendation. For guidance on treatment options, please visit a regular hospital.
Our Services
As a leader in rare neurodegenerative disease research, Protheragen offers comprehensive preclinical services to advance Parkinson's disease (PD) therapeutics from discovery to validation. Our specialized platforms integrate genetic analysis and disease-specific modeling to replicate disease pathology with high fidelity. Using advanced blood-brain barrier (BBB) models, we optimize central nervous system (CNS) drug delivery while evaluating neuroprotection and off-target effects.
Therapeutic Development Services
By Mechanism of Action
Disease Model Development Services
In Vitro Model Development
- MPTP Induced Model
- 6-OHDA Induced Model
- Rotenone Induced Model
- SNCA Transgenic Model
- LRKK2 Transgenic Model
- Other Models
Specializing in comprehensive preclinical assessment, Protheragen offers professional pharmacodynamic (PD), pharmacokinetic (PK) and toxicology research services to accelerate the therapeutic development of Parkinson's disease (PD). If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us for more details and quotation information of related services.
References
- Klokkaris A, Migdalska-Richards A. An Overview of Epigenetic Changes in the Parkinson's Disease Brain[J]. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024, 25(11): 6168.
- da Silva L P D, da Cruz Guedes E, Fernandes I C O, et al. Exploring Caenorhabditis elegans as Parkinson's disease model: neurotoxins and genetic implications[J]. Neurotoxicity Research, 2024, 42(1): 11.