Carolyn,

Thanks for posting this - neurturin is a neurotrophic factor in the same family as GDNF. Since Amgen is withholding its synthetic GDNF from us, this treatment may be the next best thing for PWP.

Last week I talked to one of the scientists at the MJFOX Foundation at length about this trial. The scientist said that if the treatment is found to work in the Phase II trial, those patients who got the sham surgery could get the real surgery after that trial's end. The participants would not have to wait until after the Phase III trial - they could get the treatment after the Phase II trial is finished -- assuming the results show that neurturin works.

And thanks to all PWP who are considering joining this trial. Without trial participants, we will never have better treatments - or a cure.