Prana's PBT434 shows potential as 'next-generation' treatment in Parkinson's

Australia-based Prana Biotechnology (ASX: PBT) drug candidate PBT434 shows significant disease-modifying capability in multiple animal models of Parkinson's Disease (PD) with potential utility in a range of movement disorders, according to new data presented at the 17th Annual Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders in Sydney.

PD is caused by the death of specialized neurons in the region of the brain called the substantia nigra. This is the only part of the brain where iron, dopamine (a neurotransmitter) and the alpha synuclein protein are all present at high concentrations. In PD, iron binds to dopamine, preventing it from functioning normally, and creating toxic free radicals. Iron also binds to alpha synuclein, causing it to aggregate. The aggregation of this protein is a well-established pathological feature of PD, and a target for new disease modifying therapies.

PBT434 prevents alpha synuclein from aggregating and also prevents the toxic consequences of iron combining with dopamine. In a further sign of the potential of PBT434 as an effective treatment, its therapeutic benefits were seen to be dose-dependent. Increasing increments of the drug resulted in increased preservation of neurons and increased improvement in motor function.