A clinical trial evaluating experimental drug Anavex 2-73 as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease dementia is now recruiting volunteers through KaraMINDS in Sydney.
This is one of only two sites in Australia participating in the phase 2 study, with the other being HammondCare in Melbourne.
Associate Professor Kathryn Goozee, Founder of KaraMINDS and Head of Clinical Research at Anglicare says both organisations are also involved in ongoing trials for the same drug as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, which have shown promising results.
“Parkinson’s disease dementia is a debilitating complication for patients dealing with movement disorders who then also develop memory and thinking changes. While this study is still in the early phases, it is exciting as it offers the potential to treat the underlying disease and improve quality of life,” says A.Prof. Goozee.
Parkinson’s disease patients aged 50 years or older who have been diagnosed with dementia will be recruited for the trial which is also being conducted in other international sites and has received the support of the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and León Research.
Trial participants will be randomly assigned to receive orally 30 or 50 mg of Anavex 2-73 or a placebo for 14 weeks.
Researchers will evaluate the impact of the treatment on cognition, as determined by the cognitive drug research computerised assessment system, as well as on patients’ motor function and sleep quality.
Preclinical studies with mouse models of Parkinson’s disease have shown that Anavex 2-73 was able to restore the function of damaged nerve cells and significantly improve motor function.
To express interest in participating in the clinical trial, please contact:
Sydney site:
KaRa MINDS
02 8960 7788
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.karaminds.com.au to register online
About Parkinson’s
More than 100,000 Australians are estimated to be living with Parkinson’s disease with as many as 80 per cent eventually experiencing Parkinson’s disease dementia. On average, 37 new cases of Parkinson’s disease are diagnosed every day or about 13,500 per year.
As Parkinson’s prevalence increases threefold after the age of 65, the growth rate in number of people living with Parkinson’s is expected to increase dramatically as the Australian population ages. It is estimated that the growth rate will average 4% over the next 20 years compared to a general population growth rate of just over 1%.
About Anglicare/KaRa MINDS
In 2012 Anglicare Sydney opened its own Clinical Research Department, funding the first Alzheimer’s prevention study in Sydney using brain amyloid imaging. Since that time Anglicare in affiliation with KaRa MINDS have conducted in excess of 15 clinical trials to support research translation and help the broader community.
Media information
For information, interviews and cases studies for the KaRa Mind’s Sydney trial, please contact Agnes Wilson on [email protected] or 0466 692 098.
For further information, interviews and cases studies for HammondCare’s Melbourne trial, please contact Peter Hallett on [email protected] or 0418 532 585.