Dive Brief:
- On Wednesday, Melior Discovery Inc. received a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for an experimental drug.
- The patent covers L-dopa-associated dyskinesia in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).
- Dyskinesia is a common side effect of one of the most common treatment for patients with PD.
Dive Insight:
Each year, between 50,000 and 60,000 people are diagnosed with PD, and all told, one million people are affected in the U.S. This neurologic disease is characterized by tremors, muscular rigidity, and slow, imprecise movements.
The primary problem underlying PD is insufficient dopamine in the brain. L-dopa, or levodopa, which is the precursor to dopamine, helps ease movement-related symptoms by replacing dopamine in the brain.
There is a serious unmet medical need associated with the broad treatment of PD. Therefore, the continued development of MLR-1019 bodes well for PD patients and caretakers, as well as the physicians who treat them.