Neurologist seeks participants for Parkinson’s disease studies

Dr. Neal Hermanowicz, director of the UC Irvine’s Movements Disorder Program for the University of California, Irvine, is seeking adults with Parkinson’s disease to participate trials

One trial is designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational drug Pimavanserin in the treatment of hallucinations and/or delusions in Parkinson’s disease. Details below.

The other study seeks to determine whether Cogane is safe and effective in slowing and/or stopping the progression of Parkinson’s disease. Details below.

Movement disorders encompass a variety of conditions that can involve either a lack of movement (rigidity) or excessive movement. Specialists at the UC Irvine Medical Center Movement Disorders Program treat these conditions with medications and/or surgery, as appropriate.

Pimavanserin study:

Professor Neal Hermanowicz, M.D., director of the Movements Disorder Program for the University of California, Irvine, is looking for adults with Parkinson’s disease (PD) who are currently experiencing symptoms of hallucinations and/or delusions.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational tablet, Pimavanserin, compared to placebo (an inactive substance) in the treatment of hallucinations and/or delusions in Parkinson’s disease.

• Be 40 years of age or older with a Parkinson’s diagnosis of at least one year
• Have visual and/or auditory hallucinations and/or delusions (called “psychotic symptoms”) during the last four weeks, which developed after the PD diagnosis
• Have been taking a stable dose of anti-Parkinson’s disease medication for at least one month before entering the study
• Not currently be taking any study specific prohibited medication
• Have a caregiver that is willing to come to all of your study visits with you
• There are other criteria that apply and the researchers will discuss these with you

Participation in this study may last up to 12 weeks and may include a total of six clinic visits. Qualified participants will receive study-related medical evaluations and the investigational medication at no cost. Compensation for time and travel will be provided. Health insurance is not required.

For more information and qualifications please contact the Hermanowicz Research Group at 949-824-3485, 949-824-8116 or E.Ceballos@uci.edu.

Cogane study:

Neal Hermanowicz, M.D., professor, Department of Neurology at the University of California, Irvine is recruiting subjects for a study to determine if Cogane(TM), a drug not yet approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is safe and effective in slowing and/or stopping the progression of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Cogane is a potential new medicine in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. It works by changing the brain’s production of proteins, called neurotrophic factors, which help the survival, development and function of nerve cells. These proteins are produced naturally by the body to protect nerve cells. It is also possible that these proteins could slow down or even reverse the progression of diseases caused by nerve damage.

Qualified subjects are males or females, between 35 and 75 years old, who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease within the past two years and currently are not taking any PD medications. Females subjects must be non-child bearing potential, either surgically sterile or postmenopausal. The researchers will determine if you also meet other rules for entry into the study. There is no cost to participate in this study. Health insurance is not required to participate. Subjects will be reimbursed $46 for each study visit that they complete. This study involves a minimum of 10 study visits over eight months. The total reimbursement possible for travel in this study is $460.

To find out if you qualify for this study please contact Dr. Hermanowicz’s research team at 949-824-3485, 949-824-8116 or E.Ceballos@uci.edu.