Parkinson's Disease Patients Get Long-Term Benefits From Experimental Gene Therapy

MrDecoder · 2026-03-10T16:53:21+00:00

Neurocrine Biosciences and Voyager Therapeutics report promising results from a gene therapy trial for Parkinson's disease, showing sustained motor function improvements after three years. Patients receiving NBIb-1817 reduced their levodopa dosage while increasing "On" time.

MrDecoder

2026-03-10 16:53:21

Abstract generation in progress

Collaboration partners, Neurocrine Biosciences (NBIX 0.16%) and Voyager Therapeutics (VYGR +19.46%) announced data from an early stage clinical trial with Parkinson’s disease patients and NBIb-1817, an experimental gene therapy. Three years after a single administration, 14 out of 15 patients are still reporting motor function improvements.

At the moment, NBIb-1817 is in the middle of a phase 2 study that was put on hold in April due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If allowed to restart, the phase 2 RESTORE-1 trial will randomize patients to receive NBIb-1817 or a placebo, then measure for a change in “On” time without troublesome dyskinesia.

Image source: Getty Images.

This potential new treatment option uses a viral vector to deliver a gene encoding an enzyme that helps Parkinson’s disease patients convert levodopa into the dopamine they need.

Administering NBIb-1817 requires magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to guide a pair of infusions that deliver the therapy directly into the striatum, a structure deep in the center of the brain. Needles through the skull aren’t anybody’s idea of a good time, but the side effects that come with daily doses of levodopa aren’t any fun either.

For patients with severe Parkinson’s disease that has a diminishing response to levodopa, the temporary discomfort that comes with NBIb-1817 treatment seems like a trade-off most will be willing to accept. Three years after a single treatment with NBIb-1817, patients were able to reduce their daily levodopa doses from a baseline of 1500.9 milligrams per day to 1061.4 milligrams per day. Despite reducing their levadopa intake, patients receiving three different dosage strengths of NBIb-1817 improved average “On” time by up to 2.23 hours.

This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.