Cerevance, a private Boston-based biotech, said its experimental Parkinson’s drug solengepras succeeded in a Phase 3 trial. Unlike standard therapies that target dopamine, solengepras inhibits a protein involved in coordination and motor function. The company hopes this approach can improve movement while avoiding the involuntary jerking often caused by levodopa.
The trial randomized 341 patients who still had motor fluctuations despite taking levodopa and other drugs. At baseline, participants averaged 5.65 hours of daily 'off' time, when symptoms return as medication wears off. After 12 weeks, the higher dose cut daily off time by 0.61 hours more than placebo, meeting the main goal. On time without troublesome dyskinesia rose by 0.60 hours, just enough to reach statistical significance.
Cerevance reported the drug was generally well tolerated, with no serious adverse events in the higher-dose arm. The most common side effects were headache, urinary tract infection, insomnia, and nausea. The company said it plans to meet with the FDA to determine next steps for solengepras.