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Figure 1. Iron in Parkinson's disease

November 20, 2008 8:00 AM UTC

The search for disease-modifying therapeutics in Parkinson's disease has been stymied by a lack of consensus about whether the disease is caused by free radical formation, protein aggregation or mitochondrial dysfunction. Now, a pair of papers in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences makes a case for the first theory by showing the therapeutic effects of blocking iron accumulation in the brain. The studies support the strategy taken by Prana Biotechnology Ltd., which has metal-binding compounds in preclinical development for PD.

PD strikes nearly 1 in 100 people late in life and is characterized by degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, which leads to motor and cognitive defects. The $2.5 to $3 billion PD market was dominated by GlaxoSmithKline plc's Requip ropinirole, which posted sales of ₤346 million ($692 million) last year but went off patent in May. Requip XL, an extended-release formulation co-developed by GSK and SkyePharma plc, was approved in the U.S. in June and faces competition from Azilect rasagiline, developed by...