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A groundbreaking weekly injectable medication has the potential to revolutionize the lives of over eight million individuals living with Parkinson’s disease, offering a possible alternative to daily pills.
Researchers from the University of South Australia (UniSA) have developed a long-acting injectable formula that delivers two essential Parkinson’s medications over the course of a week.
Currently, there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, which ranks as the second-most common neurological disorder affecting more than one million Americans, as reported by the Parkinson’s Foundation.
To manage symptoms like tremors, rigidity, and slow movement, patients typically rely on daily oral medications like levodopa and carbidopa, according to a press release from the university.
The traditional method of taking pills can be challenging for individuals who have difficulty swallowing or struggle to maintain consistent medication levels, leading to increased side effects and reduced effectiveness.
Scientists from the University of South Australia developed a long-acting injectable formulation that provides two key Parkinson’s medications for an entire week. (iStock)
Lead researcher Professor Sanjay Garg at UniSA mentioned that levodopa is considered the “gold-standard therapy for Parkinson’s,” but its short duration of action requires multiple daily doses.
The team tested an injectable gel implant that blends a biodegradable substance approved by the FDA with a pH-sensitive substance to ensure controlled and sustained drug release.
The gel can be administered through a single shot under the skin or into the muscle tissue, eliminating the need for surgical implants and minimizing discomfort.
The researchers observed that the gel steadily released the essential Parkinson’s medications (90% of the levodopa drug and 81% of the carbidopa) over the span of one week.
These findings were published in the journal Drug Delivery and Translational Research.
To manage symptoms like tremors, rigidity and slow movement, patients typically take daily oral medications. (iStock)
Garg stated in the release, “Reducing the frequency of dosing from multiple times a day to a weekly injection is a major step forward in Parkinson’s therapy. We’re not just improving how the drug is delivered; we’re improving patients’ lives.”
Rigorous lab tests confirmed the system’s efficacy and safety.
“We’re not just improving how the drug is delivered; we’re improving patients’ lives.”
Within a week, the implant degraded by over 80% and exhibited no significant toxicity in cell viability tests.
“The implications of this research are profound,” Garg added.
Deepa Nakmode, a PhD student at the University of South Australia, explained that this innovative method is designed to release both levodopa and carbidopa consistently over one week, maintaining stable plasma levels and reducing the risks associated with fluctuating drug concentrations.
“After years of dedicated research, it’s incredibly gratifying to see our long-acting injectable innovation for Parkinson’s disease progress to this stage,” Nakmode stated in the release.
Nakmode also mentioned that the team’s invention has been submitted for an Australian patent.
Extensive lab tests confirmed the new medication’s effectiveness and safety, the researchers noted. (iStock)
Additionally, the technology could potentially be adapted for other chronic conditions such as cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, chronic pain, and infections that require long-term drug delivery, as mentioned by Garg.
The system can be customized to release drugs over varying periods ranging from a few days to several weeks, depending on the patient’s therapeutic needs.
Researchers aim to commence clinical trials soon and are exploring opportunities to make the gel commercially available.
