Researchers at the Korea Brain Research Institute who conducted the study. [Korea Brain Research Institute]
Researchers at the Korea Brain Research Institute who conducted the study. [Korea Brain Research Institute]

South Korean researchers have identified a promising Parkinson's disease treatment candidate through drug repurposing, drawing on the established safety profile of an existing medication.

The Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI) announced Tuesday that a research team led by Dr. Yoon Jong-hyeok has scientifically demonstrated that prasugrel, a drug used to treat cardiovascular disease, is effective in treating and preventing Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's disease. It destroys dopamine-producing neurons that regulate movement in the brain, causing symptoms such as hand tremors and muscle rigidity. Most existing treatments only alleviate symptoms and cannot halt the disease's progression.

The team used a drug repurposing approach — finding new uses for drugs whose safety has already been established — and selected prasugrel from among medications approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as a treatment candidate. Applying a proprietary omics-based data science technology that analyzes proteomics big data, the team found that prasugrel simultaneously blocks the signaling pathways responsible for brain cell death and inflammatory responses.

A new Parkinson's disease treatment candidate identified through omics-data science-based molecular mechanism analysis. [Korea Brain Research Institute]
A new Parkinson's disease treatment candidate identified through omics-data science-based molecular mechanism analysis. [Korea Brain Research Institute]

The findings were confirmed in mouse studies in which Parkinson's disease was induced. Prasugrel administered orally successfully crossed from the bloodstream into the brain and protected dopamine neurons. Subsequent motor function tests — rotarod experiments — showed significant recovery in the mice's gait and motor abilities.

"This research sought to present a new methodology for discovering Parkinson's disease treatment candidates by going beyond the limitations of conventional drug repurposing approaches and proposing precise mechanisms of action through next-generation omics-data science," Yoon said. "We will continue to use the technology we have developed to contribute to new diagnostic and treatment strategies for brain diseases."

The research team has completed domestic and international patent applications and is exploring technology transfer opportunities.

The study, supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea, was published in the latest issue of npj Parkinson's Disease, an international neuroscience journal.


nbgkoo@heraldcorp.com