Early phase data from Novartis' Tasigna shows promising results in Parkinson's

Study data shows that blood cancer drug Tasigna (nilotinib) from Swiss pharma giant Novartis (VX: NOVN) can improve cognition, motor skills and non-motor function in Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia.

In the Phase I trial, researchers found meaningful clinical improvements in 10 of the 11 patients. These patients had been given daily Tasigna for six months, and one patient who had previously been a full-time wheelchair user was able to walk again, while three others who had been unable to speak could then hold conversations. Teasing also led to significant positive changes in toxic proteins linked to disease progression.

Tasigna was linked to an increase in dopamine, requiring doses of L-dopa and other dopamine-sparing drugs to be lowered or stopped altogether. Once treatment with Tasigna stopped, cognitive and motor function declined even though L-dopa therapies were reinstated. The drug also penetrated the blood-brain barrier more efficiently than dopamine drugs.