A recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine has found that the diabetes drug lixisenatide, similar to Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy, may have potential benefits in slowing the progression of motor disability in early stage Parkinson’s disease patients. The small mid-stage trial followed 156 patients with early Parkinson’s disease for a year, with those who received lixisenatide showing no progression of motor symptoms compared to those who received a placebo.
The study, sponsored by Sanofi, the maker of lixisenatide, revealed that the benefits of the drug lasted for two months after the trial ended. Despite Sanofi pulling the drug from the market in 2023, they provided it for the study and have expressed interest in supporting further research on its use for Parkinson’s disease.
While these findings are promising, experts caution that larger and longer studies are needed to fully assess the efficacy and safety of lixisenatide in treating Parkinson’s disease. GLP-1 drugs like lixisenatide have previously shown potential health benefits beyond diabetes management, such as weight loss, and now potentially in helping Parkinson’s patients.
This study marks an important step in exploring new treatment options for Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological disorder that currently has limited therapeutic options. Researchers hope that further investigation into the use of lixisenatide could lead to improved outcomes for patients with this debilitating condition. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting development in the field of Parkinson’s research.
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