A new Parkinson’s medication, solengepras, has shown promise in a recent trial, suggesting it could reduce the “off” periods when patients feel unwell, stiff, slow or shaky. The study reported that patients taking the higher 150 mg dose experienced nearly 37 minutes less off time per day and about an hour and a half less off time than before the trial, while also gaining roughly 36 extra minutes of on time without dyskinesia. Participants noted improved alertness, less sleepiness, and easier daily activities such as dressing and eating.
Unlike current treatments that raise dopamine levels and can cause nausea, hallucinations and involuntary limb movements, solengepras works by blocking the GPR6 receptor, which slows movement. This non‑dopaminergic approach was designed to reduce the side‑effects associated with dopamine‑based drugs.
The randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled study enrolled 341 participants across the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom and Australia. Subjects received either 75 mg or 150 mg of solengepras or a placebo once daily for 12 weeks while continuing their standard dopamine therapy. Both treatment and placebo groups improved, but the high‑dose solengepras group showed the most significant reductions in off time and improvements in on time.
Cerevance, the company that developed the drug, said the results will be discussed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to determine next steps, with a potential prescription within three years. The company’s chief executive highlighted the consistent benefits across off time, on time, motor function, alertness and quality of life, noting that solengepras offers a new mechanism that could address one of the hardest side‑effects of Parkinson’s treatment.
