Green light for second stage of tests on Parkinson's drug

A drug developed in New Zealand that takes a new approach to treating Parkinson's disease has been approved for the second phase of clinical trials.

The trial of the new compound, MitoQ, will involve Parkinsons New Zealand and 10 consultant neurologists at the country's main regional hospitals, who will assess and advise potential participants.

Screening of the 120 patients required for the trial of MitoQ had already begun, said principal investigator Dr Barry Snow, clinical director of Auckland City Hospital's neurology department.

Most participants will come from New Zealand, with a smaller number from Australia.

The drug, developed by University of Otago's Professor Robin Smith and his former Otago colleague Dr Michael Murphy of Cambridge University, works by slowing the progression of the underlying disease. Current treatments address the disease's symptoms but lose their effectiveness as the disease becomes more advanced.

Parkinson's affects about 8000 New Zealanders, and is marked by tremors, slowness of movement and rigidity.

More than 800 New Zealanders are diagnosed with Parkinson's annually.

The disease is closely associated with damage to mitochondria of nerve cells in the brain. The drug's potential lies in directly targeting mitochondria, the nerve cell's energy source and preventing further nerve damage.

"If it works, it will be the first drug that will slow the underlying progression of the degenerating nerves. If that's the case, it has tremendous implications because right now we can't slow the underlying degeneration of the nerves. All we can do is make up for what's missing. In time we struggle to do that."

The drug is a result of more than 10 years' work. Phase-one trials involving 64 people finished last year.

"It is a tribute to local expertise that a world-first approach to treating a major disease has been invented here. MitoQ also marks a first in that it will be fully trialled and developed in this country," said Dr Snow.

The company developing the drug, Auckland-based Antipodean Biotechnology, last year raised $23 million through its company, Antipodean Pharmaceuticals, to advance the drug.