I have been unable to find out if this substance is related to "Ibogaine" or "Ibocaine". Certainly sounds as though it is. Anyone out there with an association with MJF able to enlighten me?? thanks, madelyn

http://www.michaeljfox.org/research_...s_3.cfm?ID=392

Effects of PYM50028 in Reversing Dopaminergic Neuronal Degeneration and Behavioral Impairments in Parkinson’s Disease
Therapeutics Development Initiative -- Industry Track 2007

Objective/Rationale:

The objective of this project is to assess the effects of oral administration of Cogane™ in reversing the changes in the area of the brain involved in Parkinson’s disease and the associated movement disability using two pre-clinical models. In addition, this project will establish the therapeutic dose levels and duration of treatment that provide these benefits in these models to gain essential information on the appropriate dosing and design for a Phase II clinical study in Parkinson’s disease patients.

Project Description:

In the first study, Cogane™ will be administered orally every day for up to two months in an established pre-clinical model of Parkinson’s disease. Beneficial effects will be assessed by taking measurements of biochemical markers specific for the disease. The second study will use a more complex pre-clinical model of Parkinson’s disease. A range of doses of Cogane™ will be administered orally every day for up to 4 weeks and the levels of Cogane™ in the body will be measured. The third study using the same model will utilize the optimal dose of Cogane™, determined from the previous study, administered orally every day for up to 26 weeks. Beneficial effects will be assessed by taking measurements of biochemical markers and recording the movement disability characteristic of the disease.

Relevance to Diagnosis/Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease:

The body naturally produces proteins known as neurotrophic factors that stimulate the growth of nerves. In particular, one known as “GDNF” has been shown to re-grow damaged nerves in areas of the brain involved in Parkinson’s disease. Injection of GDNF in the brain showed beneficial effects in a small clinical study. Cogane™, which can be taken orally, stimulates the body to release GDNF and therefore has the potential to overcome many of the surgical difficulties associated with GDNF administration.

Anticipated Outcome:

This project will provide evidence on the ability of Cogane™ to reverse the changes in the area of the brain involved in Parkinson’s disease and the associated movement disability using pre-clinical models. In addition, this project will provide essential information on the appropriate dosing and design for a Phase II clinical study to assess the potential benefits of orally administered Cogane™ in Parkinson’s disease patients.


Researchers
Antonia Orsi, PhD
Phytopharm


Daryl Rees, PhD
Phytopharm

PYM50028 is cogane....

PYM50028, a novel, orally active, nonpeptide neurotrophic factor inducer, prevents and reverses neuronal damage induced by MPP+ in mesencephalic neurons and by MPTP in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease

Naomi P. Visanji, Antonia Orsi, Tom H. Johnston, Patrick A. Howson, Kimberly Dixon, Noelle Callizot, Jonathan M. Brotchie, and Daryl D. Rees

E-mail contact: brotchie@uhnres.utoronto.ca

Many experimental data support the enhancement of neurotrophic factors as a means to modify neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease. However, the translation of this to the clinic has proven problematic. This is likely due to the complex nature of the surgical gene delivery and cell-based approaches adopted to deliver proteinaceous neurotrophic factors to targets within the central nervous system. We investigated the ability of a novel, orally active, nonpeptide neurotrophic factor inducer, PYM50028 (Cogane), to restore dopaminergic function after 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) -induced damage to mesencephalic neurons in vitro and in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) -lesioned mice. In rat mesencephalic neurons, administration of PYM50028, either before or after MPP+, significantly prevented and reversed both MPP+-induced neuronal atrophy and cell loss. These effects were potent and of a magnitude equivalent to those achieved by a combination of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). Oral administration of PYM50028 (10 mg/kg/day for 60 days) to MPTP-lesioned mice, commencing after a striatal impairment was evident, resulted in a significant elevation of striatal GDNF (297%) and BDNF (511%), and attenuated the loss of striatal dopaminergic transporter levels and dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. PYM50028 did not inhibit monoamine oxidase B in vitro, nor did it alter brain levels of MPP+ in vivo. PYM50028 has neuroprotective and neurorestorative potential and is in clinical development for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson’s disease.—Visanji, N. P., Orsi, A., Johnston, T. H., Howson, P. A., Dixon, K., Callizot, N., Brotchie, J. M., Rees, D. D. PYM50028, a novel, orally active, nonpeptide neurotrophic factor inducer, prevents and reverses neuronal damage induced by MPP+ in mesencephalic neurons and by MPTP in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease.

Published online before print March 25, 2008 as doi: 10.1096/fj.07-095398.

http://www.fasebj.org/cgi/content/ab...fj.07-095398v1

************OLD THREAD:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/ar...p/t-21171.html

Since this product is a "supplement", I am trying to find out if it is available from the company that produces it--Phytopharm. and I am still wondering if it is a metabolite of ibogaine--though Deborah Mash PhD (univ miami, fla)holds the patent to one of ibogaine's metabolites. If this product does increase GDNF levels with oral administration of the substance, I am very interested in any preliminary info from the study. Does anyone on this forum have advice for me in obtaining this information? thanks, madelyn

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0609170806.htm
"...The research by scientists at theUCSF-affiliatedErnest Gallo Clinic and Research Center builds on their earlier work. In 2005, they reported the first hints that increased levels of this brain protein, known as GDNF, cut down alcohol consumption. The new study established how quickly the effect kicks in, and shows for the first time that the chemical blocks relapse and does not interfere with normal cravings. The research also pinpointed the brain site where GDNF acts to control drinking...
...GDNF, or glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor, is already a focus of strong interest for treating Parkinson's disease. A new orally-delivered, experimentaldrug has been shown to raise brain GDNF levels in rats, suggesting its promise against Parkinson's. Research by Ron and her colleagues suggests such a drug might also treat alcoholism..."

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...d.php?p=307040

...Scientists at UCSF's Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center have now shown definitively in experiments with mice and rats that Ibogaine does reduce alcohol consumption, and they have determined that it does so by increasing the level of a brain protein known as glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, or GDNF. In a separate study, they demonstrated that GDNF by itself decreases alcohol consumption.

The research is being published in the January 19 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience...
...The scientists confirmed in a cell model that Ibogaine stimulated GDNF activity. Finally, they showed that a known inhibitor of GDNF blocked Ibogaine's ability to decrease alcohol craving in the rats, suggesting a direct link between Ibogaine's desirable actions and GDNF.

'If we can alter the GDNF pathway, we may well have a new treatment against alcohol and drug addiction without the unwanted side effects of Ibogaine,' Ron said..."

Changing this post since you have seen it. I wrote to Todd Scherer from MJFF and asked him, giving him this link.

paula

Thanks, Paula. Someone from MJF sent me an abstract of the grant proposal. Unfortunately it does not include information about the product (ie is it related to ibogaine) and if any preliminary info from any of the trials is available. madelyn

for sticking to this one - and digging. I think - hope - it's BIG.
ibby

http://www.cureparkinsons.org.uk/Home_1.aspx?id=0:36722

rates Cogane as a real hope.

See

http://www.cureparkinsons.org.uk/cli...Phytopharm.pdf

for all you could wish to know about Cogane.

Neil.

Received from Todd Scherer:

"Someone on our team looked into the chemical structures and the two compounds do not appear to be structurally related.

Ibogaine is a indol alkaloid, cogane appears to be a sterol---the two structures look pretty different."

paula

I was thinking about Cogane last night, and so I did some web searches on it. I found that it is from:

"traditional tonic for the elderly"
"yin tonic, Chinese & Asian"

So then I did more web searches on those topics and there were quite a few possible herbs and asian treatments listed that might fit the bill. And of course a multitude of places to purchase Asian herbal remedies also appeared in the web searches.

So I ordered a couple of them and will start taking them as soon as they arrive. I figure it's worth a try! Stay tuned.

(I don't feel comfortable posting what I ordered, but you are welcome to PM me.)

Hi Jean, did you ever use any of the supplements/herbs related to "cogane". If you did, any results? and any news from MJFF re: their study of the supplement????thanks, madelyn