Exenatide was shown by researchers at University College London to provide improved movement in Parkinson’s patients compared to a placebo.

Scientists at University College London (UCL) may have found a new way to treat Parkinson’s Disease using an existing diabetes medication. Exenatide is marketed as Byetta and Bydureon, manufactured by Amylin Pharmaceuticals and commercialized by AstraZeneca. It is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist derived from Gila monster saliva that triggers insulin secretion.

The UCL researchers conducted a study of 60 patients with Parkinson’s Disease who were already taking currently available medications. Self-injection of the exanatide or a placebo was performed once per week for 48 weeks, and then the treatment was halted temporarily to determine if any changes in the progression of the disease occurred. The patients that received exenatide had better performance with respect to tremors, agility and speech than those who received the placebo at 48 and 60 weeks into the study.

These initial results are very encouraging. The next step for the researchers is to determine how exenatide affects the progression of Parkinson’s. The disease involves the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells, leading to motor symptoms like impaired coordination and muscle stiffness. It has been shown previously that exenatide boosts motor function in animals and that stimulating GLP receptors in the brain can improve dopamine connections. 

"This is a very promising finding, as the drug holds potential to affect the course of the disease itself, and not merely the symptoms," said senior author Tom Foltynie, Ph.D., in a statement. "With existing treatments, we can relieve most of the symptoms for some years, but the disease continues to worsen."

Added the study's first author, Dilan Athauda, MRCP, a Clinical Researcher at UCL: "While we are optimistic about the results of our trial, there is more investigation to be done, and it will be a number of years before a new treatment could be approved and ready for use. We also hope to learn why exenatide appears to work better for some patients than for others.”

Separately, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, the Van Andel Research Institute and the Cure Parkinson's Trust are investigating the Novartis blood cancer drug called Tasigna (nilotinib) as a treatment for Parkinson’s.