title: A new approach to disease-modifying drug trials  in Parkinson's disease.
abstract: Translating new findings in the laboratory into therapies for patients is a slow and expensive process. The development of therapies for neurodegenerative diseases is further complicated by the difficulty in determining whether the drug truly retards the slow degenerative process or provides only symptomatic benefit. In this issue, Aviles-Olmos et al. describe a first in Parkinson's disease (PD) patient study using a drug previously approved for diabetes treatment. In addition to suggesting that the drug may indeed be disease modifying in PD, their innovative approach suggests there may be more rapid and inexpensive avenues for testing novel therapies in PD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurosciences, Cambridge Center for Brain Repair, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Roger A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stacy
authors.forename: Patrik
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brundin
mesh_terms: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077270:Exenatide; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010455:Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014688:Venoms / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D010455:Peptides; D014688:Venoms; D000077270:Exenatide