In the interest of space on the board, I have combined news items into one page.

3 strikes needed to kill brain cells in Parkinson's disease: study

CBC News, Last Updated: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 | 4:15 PM ET
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/...e.html?ref=rss

It may take a combination of three molecules to kill brain cells in Parkinson's disease, researchers say.

The three molecules — the neurotransmitter dopamine, a calcium channel, and a protein called alpha-synuclein — act together, Eugene Mosharov of Columbia University Medical Center in New York and his colleagues said in Wednesday's online issue of the journal Neuron.

"Though the interactions among the three molecules are complex, the flip side is that we now see that there are many options available to rescue the cells," Mosharov said in a release.



New Studies on Once-Daily Extended Release Pramipexole Presented at American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting

PR Newswire, April 29, 2009
http://sev.prnewswire.com/null/20090...9042009-1.html

Data indicated comparable efficacy and safety for extended release and immediate release formulations of pramipexole

SEATTLE, April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- New findings from two double-blind studies investigating the efficacy, safety and tolerability of pramipexole dihydrochloride tablets in an extended release, once-daily formulation, for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD), are being presented today at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) 61st Annual Meeting in Seattle.

The first study compared the efficacy, safety and tolerability of pramipexole extended release versus the currently available pramipexole immediate release formulation and placebo, in patients with early PD (those who have early symptoms), treated for up to 33 weeks. A statistical analysis conducted at week 18 demonstrated that the pramipexole extended release formulation was superior to placebo and had comparable efficacy to the pramipexole immediate release formulation. Further analysis among the 84 patients who completed the 33 weeks of treatment indicated maintenance of efficacy.

"It is important to provide patients with a treatment regimen that suits their individual needs," stated Robert Hauser, MD, Professor of Neurology, and Director, Parkinson's Disease & Movement Disorders Center at the University of South Florida College of Medicine, and a co-author on both studies. "These data suggest that this potential formulation may be as effective and as safe as the currently available three-times-a-day formulation."


The Allen Brown Gallery chooses The Parkinson’s Disease Society as 'Charity of the Year'

United Kingdom, Business Weekly.co.uk, Written by Claire Elbrow
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
http://www.businessweekly.co.uk/2009...-the-year.html

Jewellery business, The Allen Brown Gallery is pleased to announce they will be supporting the Parkinson’s Disease Society (PDS) throughout 2009.

The Parkinson’s Disease Society is a charity close to the heart of Allen Brown. His mother suffered from this debilitating condition for several years. Allen comments; “I am very proud to back the Parkinson’s Disease Society this year. I will be holding several dedicated events at my
workshop and will be creating bespoke items of jewellery purely for the PDS. Both of my parents gained a huge amount of comfort, information and encouragement from our local support group and I feel very strongly that it is now my time to give something back.”


Combination of genetic and environmental 'hits' required for Parkinson's disease

EurekAlert!, by Cathleen Genova, 29-Apr-2009
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releas...-cog042409.php

New research finds that a complex interaction between separate factors underlies the pathology associated with Parkinson's disease (PD), reinforcing the concept that multiple therapeutic targets should be considered when designing treatment strategies. The findings, published by Cell Press in the April 30th issue of the journal Neuron, also help to explain why known risk factors do not predict PD in a straightforward manner.

PD is a neurodegenerative disease that impairs movement and is characterized by a specific loss of dopamine neurons in a region of the midbrain called the substantia nigra (SN). Interestingly, dopamine neurons in neighboring brain regions are spared. Research has shown that the SN neurons of PD patients contain ?-synuclein protein and exhibit elevated levels of calcium and free intracellular dopamine (known as "cytosolic" dopamine). However, the specific contributions and interplay of these factors are not well understood.


Wockhardt may get rights for two Parkinson's drugs

India, BS Reporter / Mumbai April 30, 2009, 0:17 IST
http://www.business-standard.com/ind...-drugs/356666/

Wockhardt today said it had reached an out-of-court settlement on three patent infringement cases in the US with Orion Corporation. The dispute related to two of Parkinson’s disease drug brands, Comtan and Stalevo.


Stanford Researchers Receive $5.8 Million Grant from State Stem Cell Agency

On Wednesday April 29, 2009, 6:09 pm EDT
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Stanfo...7212.html?.v=1

STANFORD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Researchers at Stanford University’s School of Medicine today received a $5.8 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Michael Longaker, MD, is the principal investigator on the five-year grant, which is focused on ways to stimulate existing adult stem cells to heal damaged nerves, bone, skin and cardiac muscle.