Hopkins study props up PARP inhibitors for Parkinson's

A study in mice showed the potential of repurposed PARP-1 inhibitors to reverse aggregate α-synuclein-induced neuronal cell death in Parkinson's disease.

PARP inhibitors Lynparza olaparib, Zejula niraparib, Talzenna talazoparib and Rubraca rucaparib are marketed or approved for cancers where PARP-1 is necessary for DNA repair. Earlier studies had shown that PARP-1 activation also led to progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in PD. However, safety and tolerability concerns intrinsic with PARP inhibitors have previously weighed against clinical testing for PD, as chronic treatment would be necessary to treat the neurodegenerative disease...