Previous in vitro studies have suggested that the diabetes drug exenatide — a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist — has neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects. This clinical study investigated the efficacy of exenatide in 45 patients with moderate Parkinson's disease. Exanatide given for 12 months improved motor symptoms (P = 0.037) and some cognitive measures, although weight loss was commonly observed. These data support larger double-blind trials of exenatide as a potential disease-modifying drug in Parkinson's disease.
References
Aviles-Olmos, I. et al. Exenatide and the treatment of patients with Parkinson's disease. J. Clin. Invest. 123, 2730–2736 (2013)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Charlotte, H. Exenatide provides benefit in Parkinson's disease. Nat Rev Drug Discov 12, 506 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd4060
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd4060