Clinical trials with short studies

[Parkinsonjisung]

I just read this new trial was launched:

amp.benzinga.com/amp/conten...

"The primary endpoint is motor function at Week 12 in the practically defined off-medication state, measured by the Movement Disorder Society's Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) Part 3"

Surely 12 weeks isn't long enough to gather any useful data? Parkinson's is a slow moving disease and move at different rates for different people. I cant see how they'll get any useful data from a trail design like this.

[sharoncrayn]

A very esoteric Phase 2 drug trial (placebo, non cross-over, 200+ participants) out of partnership with the MJFF for a drug named --- AKST4290, an orally administered CCR3 inhibitor. CCR3s presumably block the action of Eotaxin, an immunomodulatory protein that increases as humans age and with specific age-related diseases, and most importantly, is detrimental to brain functioning. In addition, this drug follows the theory of anti-inflammatory drugs possibly reducing motor problems in PD.

This approach builds on the 2016 MPTP mouse study as well as another one in 2017 which showed that neutralization of RANTES and Eotaxin prevents the loss (at least a decent portion) of "Dopaminergic" Neurons in a MPTP mouse model of PD.

The short time frame of 12 WEEKS is probably an indication that they are willing to deal with the risk of a short time frame in hopes of seeing some immediate improvement. If so, they will probably have to move to a more lengthy Phase 3. Hopefully, the deign will be improved in other areas as well if they actually see a significant improvement, but I have my doubts.

By the way, CCR3 drugs are nothing new.

Sharon

[Parkinsonjisung in reply to sharoncrayn]

Thanks Sharon. You mentioned that ccr3 drugs aren't new? Have they been trialled before?