[TommyI]

Exendin


Exendin-4 is one of 20 molecules found in the saliva of the Gila Monster, a lizard with a zipcode in New Mexico and Arizona. Sometimes the lizard eats only a few times per year, and Exendin is an appetite suppressant that handles this dilemma for the lizard by strongly influencing its insulin/glucagon biochemical pathways. Amylin Pharmaceuticals (California) logically thought of developing it as treatment for Diabetes Type II. They found they could synthesize the molecule in the lab so the lizards were safe in their burrows and were relieved all spitting duties. With a business arrangement with Lilly Pharmaceuticals, Amylin did the requisite clinical trials over several years, and about 2-3 years ago Exendin-4 (known commercially as Byetta, and Exenatide) was launched in the USA and in Europe as a treatment for Diabetes Type II. It is not currently a frontline treatment, but tends to be given to the more difficult cases.

We (The Cure Parkinson's Trust) believe Exendin-4 may play a future role in Parkinson's Disease. The work so far has revolved around the work of Peter Whitton at the London School of Pharmacy, and also of NeuroNova (a Swedish Pharma company). For those interested follow the following links :-

Peter Whitton

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1...ubmed_RVDocSum


NeuroNova

Below is the central page where you will find all their research posters – click on each of them, best to download them, and then print them out

http://www.neuronova.com/index.php?o...=37&Itemid=111


NeuroNova focus on the neurotrophic effects of Exendin, whilst Peter Whitton is more interested in its anti-inflammatory properties. It’s possible also that there could be a beneficial effect on the serotonin system. Perhaps Exendin helps in all 3 areas. Either way it's a fascinating new approach, especially as it's active when given orally.

Here are two of NeuroNova’s publications :-

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1...ubmed_RVDocSum

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1...ubmed_RVDocSum


The Cure Parkinson’s Trust is working with all parties to facilitate this research and to assist in the protocol and more practical aspects of clinical trials. This has to be a priority for us as clearly this treatment offers huge potential and relatively speaking could be approved for use by the regulators in a short space of time. Trials are likely to be in Europe.

Alternatively, for those of you who live in Arizona and New Mexico, I strongly recommend find the best looking Gila Monster you can and start French kiss him/her three times a day before eating.

Cogane

We will be issuing a press release on this shortly. There has been a minor delay due to company restructuring, but we are confident that the intended trials will proceed as previously planned. The Cure Parkinson’s Trust is actively engaged in ensuring the work is robust and credible. We are also anxious to keep the momentum going as here is another prospective treatment which could reverse the condition.

For further details go to http://www.cureparkinsons.org.uk/New...9&news=0:38823

I realise I have not answered the crucial question – HOW LONG? – on either of these. That is because I don‘t know. All I can say is that if either of these two treatments are as promising as they seem, they will be with us before it is too late for any of us! So hang in there!!

[reverett123]

While I haven't been following the Cogane closely, the Exendin is very high on my watch list due to Dr. Whitton's staid enthusiasm and the fact that it is already far down the pipeline.

For those who don' t want to wait and don't have an amorous gila monster handy, there is some reason to believe that certain fats trigger production of the same peptide albeit not quite as efficiently. It may explain the coconut oil and fish oil reports of healing.

[jeanb]

Wow - gila monsters are indigineous to Arizona. And they are very very scary beasts. i'm delighted to learn about this new research.