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JOURNAL OF PARKINSON’S DISEASE
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Daphne Watrin
IOS Press
Tel: +31 20 688 3355
Fax: +31 20 687 0019
E-mail: [email protected]
www.journalofparkinsonsdisease.com
New Animal Study Shows Promise for Development of
Parkinson's Disease Drug
Published in Inaugural Issue of the Journal of Parkinson's Disease
Amsterdam, NL, 9 June 2011 – Few treatments for Parkinson's disease (PD) restore function for
extended periods. In a new study published today in the inaugural issue of the Journal of Parkinson’s
Disease, an international group of researchers report that platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGFBB) restored function in rodents and shows promise as a clinical candidate drug for treatment of PD.
Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, affecting 1–2% of the population
over the age of 65. It is characterized by loss of brain cells (neurons) from the mid-brain which use the
neurotransmitter dopamine to help control voluntary movements. Investigators from NeuroNova AB,
Stockholm, Sweden, the Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, The
Parkinson’s Institute, Sunnyvale, CA, USA, and Motac Neuroscience Ltd, Manchester, UK, found that
behavioral, tissue and biochemical changes in experimental models of Parkinson’s disease in rodents
could be counteracted by infusion of PDGF-BB. This could offer an alternative strategy to restore
function in PD.
“In animal models of nigrostriatal injury, a two weeks treatment with platelet-derived growth factor-BB
resulted in long-lasting restoration of striatal dopamine transporter binding sites and expression of
nigral tyrosine hydroxylase,” commented Anders Haegerstrand, MD, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer,
NeuroNova AB, Stockholm, Sweden."It also normalized amphetamine-induced rotational behavior in
6-hydroxydopamine lesioned rats. Platelet-derived growth factor-BB promoted proliferation of neural
progenitor cells in the subventricular zone. The effects on dopaminergic neurons and functional
recovery could be blocked by co-infusion with a proliferation inhibitor, indicating a link between the
proliferative and anti-parkinsonian effects. Based on the current data, we consider platelet-derived
growth factor-BB a clinical candidate drug for treatment of Parkinson’s disease.”
The study demonstrated for the first time a functional relevance of a PDGF-induced cell proliferation
in a model of CNS disease. In the rats studied, normalization of behavior after PDGF-BB treatment
lasted for 10 weeks. PDGF-BB is already in clinical trial at NeuroNova
(www.neuronova.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=41&Itemid=72).
The article is “Restorative Effects of Platelet Derived Growth Factor-BB in Rodent Models of
Parkinson’s Disease” by Olof Zachrisson, Ming Zhao, Annica Andersson, Karin Dannaeus, Johan
Häggblad, Ruben Isacson, Elisabet Nielsen, Cesare Patrone, Harriet Rönnholm, Lilian Wikstrom,
Kristofer Delfani, Alison L. McCormack, Theo Palmer, Donato A. Di Monte, Michael P. Hill, Ann Marie
Janson Lang, and Anders Haegerstrand. Journal of Parkinson’s Disease. 1(1). DOI 10.3233/JPD2011-0003. Published by IOS Press.
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NOTES FOR EDITORS
Full text of the article is available at
http://iospress.metapress.com/content/6466t3765v522413/fulltext.pdf or contact Daphne Watrin, IOS
Press, Tel: +31 20 688 3355, [email protected]. Journalists wishing to interview the authors should
contact Anders Haegerstrand, MD, PhD, [email protected]. The entire inaugural
issue may be accessed via http://iospress.metapress.com/content/n5063w820443.
ABOUT THE JOURNAL OF PARKINSON’S DISEASE (JPD)
Launched in June 2011 the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease is dedicated to providing an open forum
for original research in basic science, translational research and clinical medicine that will expedite
our fundamental understanding and improve treatment of Parkinson’s disease. The journal is
international and multidisciplinary and aims to promote progress in the epidemiology, etiology,
genetics, molecular correlates, pathogenesis, pharmacology, psychology, diagnosis and treatment of
Parkinson’s disease. It publishes research reports, reviews, short communications, and letters-to-theeditor and offers very rapid publication and an affordable open access option.
www.journalofparkinsonsdisease.com
ABOUT IOS PRESS
Commencing its publishing activities in 1987, IOS Press (www.iospress.nl) serves the information
needs of scientific and medical communities worldwide. IOS Press now (co-)publishes over 100
international journals and about 130 book titles each year on subjects ranging from computer
sciences and mathematics to medicine and the natural sciences.
IOS Press continues its rapid growth, embracing new technologies for the timely dissemination of
information. All journals are available electronically and an e-book platform was launched in 2005.
Headquartered in Amsterdam with satellite offices in the USA, Germany, India and China, IOS Press
has established several strategic co-publishing initiatives. Notable acquisitions included Delft
University Press in 2005 and Millpress Science Publishers in 2008.