Progress towards therapies for disease modification in Parkinson's disease

The development of interventions to slow or halt the progression of Parkinson's disease remains a priority for patients and researchers alike. To date, no agents have been shown to have unequivocal evidence of disease-modifying effects in Parkinson's disease. The absence of disease-modifying treatments might relate not only to inadequate approaches for the selection of therapeutic candidates but also to insufficient attention to detail in clinical trial design. Better understanding of Parkinson's disease pathogenesis associated with advances in laboratory models, the use of objective biomarkers of disease progression and target engagement, and a focus on agents known to be safe for human use, alongside the use of precision medicine approaches, should together greatly increase the likelihood for successful identification of disease-modifying treatments for Parkinson's disease.

Automated summary

The development of disease-modifying treatments for Parkinson's disease remains a challenge, due in part to limitations in therapeutic candidate selection and clinical trial design. A better understanding of Parkinson's disease pathogenesis, the use of biomarkers, focus on safe drugs, and precision medicine approaches could greatly increase the likelihood of successful identification of disease-modifying treatments.