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Reactions to clinical trial of Parkinson's drug to slow down ALS

A research team in Japan has published a small clinical trial in 20 people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) of a drug called ropinirole, which is commonly used in patients with Parkinson's disease. The authors, whose study is published in Cell Stem Cell, say the treatment is safe and slowed the progression of ALS - an incurable neurodegenerative disease - by an average of 27.9 weeks.

01/06/2023 - 17:00 CEST
Expert reactions

Michael Swash - fármaco ELA EN

Michael Swash

Professor of Neurology, Barts and the London School of Medicine

Science Media Centre UK

This is an interesting report. There has long been an effort to find an “off the shelf medication" applicable to ALS management. Ropinirole may be one such drug. But there needs to be a clearer understanding of its mechanism of action in order to apply such knowledge more widely. In addition, a larger study is required to understand who might benefit and what might be the limits of practical therapy in using ropinirole in ALS. More data on possible unwanted effects are also required. There are interesting parallels in proteinaceous accumulation in the neuronal cytosol between PD and ALS that should be explored. 

The author has declared they have no conflicts of interest
EN

Brian Dickie - ELA EN

Brian Dickie

Director of Research at the MND Association

Science Media Centre UK

Whilst these results may be of some interest to the research community, the clinical trial is far too small and the findings too preliminary to draw any valid conclusions.

The author has not responded to our request to declare conflicts of interest
EN
Publications
A single-center, randomized, double- blind, placebo-controlled phase 1/2a feasibility trial
  • Research article
  • Peer reviewed
  • Clinical trial
  • People
Journal
Cell Stem Cell
Publication date
Authors

Satoru Morimoto et al.

Study types:
  • Research article
  • Peer reviewed
  • Clinical trial
  • People
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