A new drug could improve the movement in patients with Huntington.

– phase III trial showed that the Pridopidina could improve a wide range of movement disorders, such as the akinesia and Dystonia, characteristic of patients with this neurodegenerative disease

-this medicine is considered a stabilizing dopamine: neutralizes the effects of excess or lack of dopamine in the brain areas that control the movement and the coordinationn, without showing side effects

– in the study, led by Dr. Justo García of Yébenes, CIBERNED researcher and neurologist of the Hospital Ramón y Cajal, participated 437 patients from eight countries of the European Union, of which about 60 have been Spanish

-the possibility of this new treatment to improve motor function has a direct impact on the quality life and health of all those affected by this disease: more than 4,000 in Spain, 50,000 in Europe and more than 30,000 in United States

Madrid, November 2011- A new drug called Pridopidina could improve various types of motor symptoms associated with including the akinesia, Huntington’s diseaseDystonia or disorders of motility eye, without side effects. This is the main conclusion of phase III of the MermaiHD study, led by Dr. Justo García of Yébenes, psychiatrist of the Hospital Ramón y Cajal and researcher at the Center for research in network diseases neurodegenerative (CIBERNED), which has just published the journal Lancet Neurology.

This medicine, considered as a partial agonist, neutralizes the effects of excess or lack of dopamine in the areas of the brain that control movement and coordination. So far, no other compound had managed this spectrum of symptoms. Tetrabenazine, the only drug approved for Huntington’s disease, is effective on the Korea (from Greek, dance, involuntary movements of the patient) but does not improve other symptoms.

Phase III of the trial has focused on assessing the potential and safety of Pridopidina as a possible alternative treatment of motor symptoms of Huntington’s disease. To this end, they participated in the study 437 patients from eight countries of the European Union, of which about 60 were Spaniards. During 26 weeks these volunteers they provided 90 mg daily of the medicinal product, 45 mg per day or placebo. The effects of the drug have been evaluated using a modified motor scale (mMS) designed to measure 10 symptoms related to voluntary movements, including in different international scales of measure such as the UHDRS (Unified Huntington ’ s Disease Rating Scale) and MST (Total Motor Score). In addition to both scales, also has been evaluated the cognitive function of patients, behavior, depression and anxiety.

After 6 months of treatment, the patients who were taking the highest dose of Pridopidina showed a slight drop in the scale mMS with regard to the volunteers who took placebo, indicating some improvement of voluntary movement. However, the most significant was the improvement provided by the treatment on the motor function: movement of the hand, walking and balance, to compare the results obtained by the patients that they provided the highest dose against those who took placebo, according to the scale UHDRS-TMS. The trial has also shown that they took over Pridopidina doses, they went to all the study visits and they completed more than 70 per cent of drug treatment, showed significant benefits for patients.

Huntington’s disease may occur at any age, 80% of cases between 35 and 55 years, and produces cognitive, motor, and psychiatric disturbances that progressively worsen over several years

Huntington’s disease (called also Korea Huntington is a hereditary neurodegenerative (due to a genetic mutation) disease)which affects many regions of the brain, with greater severity to the basal ganglia and which lacks curative treatment or progression enlentecedor

is transmitted as autosomal dominant, which means that any children of any affected person has a 50% chance of inheriting the mutation and suffering from the disease.

Occurs at any age, 80% of cases between 35 and 55 years, and produces important cognitive, psychiatric, and motor disturbances, very slow progression, for years. The appearance of clinical disease known is the presence of abnormal movements, coreicos ”, characterized movement flutuante and exaggeration of the limbs and carrying out repeated grimaces and gestures. With the progression of the disease the patient is unable to fend for itself, lets walk, he has difficulty eating, lose weight, presents intellectual impairment and psychiatric disorders. As a result of all these problems, the inmobilidad and malnutrition often results in death.

The prevalence of the disease is 1 in 10,000 people in Western countries. Affects total approximately 70,000 people from Europe to United States, of which some 4,500 lived in Spain, and it is likely that there are some 200,000 people at risk of inheriting her.

On the CIBERNED

The Center for research in biomedicine in network diseases neurodegenerative (CIBERNED) is one of the centers of reference in Spain in research on neurodegenerative diseases (END), such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Hurtington and other ataxias and neuromuscular diseases. Created in 2006, its main purpose is encourage basic biomedical research, clinical research and the epidemiological as well as promote research in the laboratories can materialize and reach the patient (translational research).

It is legally organized as a public Consortium where they participate various institutions representing the General State administration, the autonomous communities and other not institutional e includes a total of 58 Spanish research groups who share a common goal: combat Neurodegeneration ”.

Funds managed by the CIBERNED come from the State, specifically the Ministry of science and innovation, who channelled them through the Instituto de Salud Carlos III. However, CIBERNED has the power to be able to attract other resources from foundations and/or funding of research.

In addition to the basic and clinical research, the CIBERNED is intended to promote the science of quality and make the society involved in its efforts to reduce the negative impact of the Neurodegeneration.

In recent years the CIBERNED has funded a specific research Huntington’s disease-related area. At this time the CIBERNED funding a cooperative project which integrates 6 research groups interested in Huntington’s disease. The Coordinator of this project is the principal investigator of the trial of the pridopidina. The study of the pridopidina and drugs of the same family is part of the coordinated project.