Parkinson's clinical trials website aims to increase patient participation

Parkinson's clinical trials website aims to increase patient participation

A new website launched in mid-January aims to increase patient participation in clinical trials of Parkinson's disease with a goal of accelerating the development of new treatments. Studies listed on the site are sponsored by NIH and other federal agencies, private industry and private institutions. All have received FDA approval as well as approval from the institutional review board where the study is being conducted.

The project is a response to feedback from Parkinson's patients, who expressed concern through their grassroots network, the Parkinson's Pipeline Project, that progress on new therapies moving into clinical trials would be slowed by lack of patient participation. An estimated 5,000 people with Parkinson’s are currently participating in clinical research. Researchers anticipate that as many as 10,000-15,000 will be needed to conduct clinical studies over the next two to three years. An estimated 500,000 people in the U.S. are afflicted with the progressive neurological disorder, and an additional 50,000 individuals are diagnosed each year.

Partners in the project are Advancing Parkinson's Therapies (APT), an initiative of seven patient groups and foundations, and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). APT includes the American Parkinson Disease Association, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, the National Parkinson Foundation, the Parkinson’s Action Network, the Parkinson Alliance and WE MOVE. The website is coordinated by the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation. The APT clinical trials website is at http://www.PDtrials.org.

Source: Washington Fax, January 19, 2005