[jeffreyn]

"The research collaboration will investigate the ability of investigational compound PBT434 to mitigate gastrointestinal dysfunction; constipation, lowered colon motility and inflammation in mouse models, including an alpha-synuclein transgenic mouse."

"PBT434 is the first of a new generation of small molecules from the quinazolinone class of drugs that was specifically designed to block the accumulation and aggregation of alpha-synuclein and is expected to begin human testing in a Phase 1 trial later this year."

Press release from Prana:
Prana commences research collaboration with Takeda for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease gastrointestinal neuropathology | Prana Biotechnology

Open-access research paper:
The novel compound PBT434 prevents iron mediated neurodegeneration and alpha-synuclein toxicity in multiple models of Parkinson’s disease | Acta Neuropathologica Communications | Full Text

[jeffreyn]

As noted above, a human clinical trial (Phase I) of PBT434 is planned to commence later this year (focused on motor symptoms).

For those who would like some background information on PBT434, but don't have the time (or inclination) to read the research paper, the SoPD blog has a pretty-good write-up (IMHO):

Iron, life force, and Parkinson’s disease | The Science of Parkinson's disease