Cure Parkinson's (formerly The Cure Parkinson's Trust) is a leading UK-based charitable organization dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson's disease through funding and facilitating clinical trials. Founded in 2005 by Tom Isaacs and friends, the organization focuses specifically on disease-modifying therapies that can slow, stop, or reverse Parkinson's progression[1].
Cure Parkinson's mission is to find a cure for Parkinson's disease by funding and facilitating clinical trials for disease-modifying treatments. The organization takes a "clinical trials first" approach, prioritizing investments that will directly lead to human testing[1:1].
The International Linked Clinical Trials (iLCT) program is Cure Parkinson's flagship initiative and one of the world's most active drug repurposing programs for Parkinson's disease[2].
iLCT takes a systematic approach to drug repurposing:
| Drug | Original Indication | Mechanism | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exenatide | Type 2 Diabetes | GLP-1 receptor agonist | Phase 3 |
| Inosine | Gout | Urate elevation | Phase 3 |
| Simvastatin | High cholesterol | HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor | Phase 2 |
| Amlodipine | Hypertension | Calcium channel blocker | Phase 2 |
| Metformin | Type 2 Diabetes | AMPK activator | Phase 2 |
| Atomoxetine | ADHD | Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor | Phase 2 |
Cure Parkinson's prioritizes research targeting:
Cure Parkinson's works with leading research institutions:
The organization collaborates with pharmaceutical companies to accelerate trials:
The iLCT Scientific Advisory Board includes leading PD researchers from around the world who review and prioritize candidate drugs.
The exenatide program is Cure Parkinson's most notable success:
Exenatide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist originally developed for Type 2 diabetes. The drug works by activating GLP-1 receptors in the brain, which may protect dopaminergic neurons from degeneration[4]. The Phase 2 trial demonstrated significant improvements in motor scores (OFF-medication) after 48 weeks of treatment, with effects persisting during the 12-week follow-up washout period[3:1]. A subsequent open-label follow-up study showed continued benefit after 2 years of treatment[5].
Mechanism: GLP-1 receptor activation leads to:
Inosine is a urate-elevating therapy that raises serum urate levels. Higher urate has been associated with slower PD progression in epidemiological studies[6]. The Phase 2 trial (SURE-PD3) demonstrated that inosine was safe and well-tolerated, successfully elevating urate levels in participants.
Mechanism: Urate acts as a natural antioxidant and may:
Simvastatin is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor with potential neuroprotective properties beyond its cholesterol-lowering effects[7]. The phase 2 trial explored whether simvastatin could slow disease progression in early-stage PD patients.
Mechanism: Statins may provide neuroprotection through:
Metformin is the most widely prescribed diabetes medication and has shown promise in neuroprotection[8]. It activates AMPK, which triggers cellular energy sensors and promotes stress resistance.
Mechanism: Metformin may protect neurons through:
Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker that may protect dopaminergic neurons from calcium dysregulation, a key feature of PD pathology[9].
Mechanism: Calcium channel blockers may:
Atomoxetine is a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor being tested for cognitive dysfunction in PD[10]. While primarily targeting attention and executive function, it may also have disease-modifying potential.
Mechanism: Atomoxetine may improve:
The iLCT program operates across multiple countries:
| Country | Number of Sites |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 20+ |
| United States | 25+ |
| Germany | 10+ |
| France | 8+ |
| Australia | 5+ |
| Spain | 5+ |
| Italy | 5+ |
Cure Parkinson's has developed robust patient recruitment strategies:
The iLCT program has generated important clinical data:
Cure Parkinson's emphasizes long-term follow-up:
Cure Parkinson's takes a strategic approach to funding:
| Year | Investment | Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | £500K | First trial (Exenatide pilot) |
| 2011 | £2M | Launch iLCT program |
| 2015 | £5M | International expansion |
| 2020 | £10M | Phase 3 trials |
| 2023 | £15M | 20+ active trials |
The iLCT pipeline continues to expand:
Future research priorities include:
All iLCT trials are:
Cure Parkinson's maintains high ethical standards:
The organization includes patient representatives:
Cure Parkinson's provides resources for patients:
Tom Isaacs, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at age 27, founded The Cure Parkinson's Trust in 2005. His personal experience with the disease drove the organization's mission to accelerate the development of disease-modifying treatments[11].
Tom's vision was simple but powerful: bring together people with Parkinson's, researchers, and clinicians to find a cure faster. His approach emphasized:
The organization's founding principles remain central to its work today:
The iLCT Scientific Advisory Board comprises internationally recognized Parkinson's disease researchers:
| Researcher | Institution | Expertise |
|---|---|---|
| Prof. Roger Barker | Cambridge University | Clinical trials, PD biomarkers |
| Prof. Kailash Bhatia | UCL Institute of Neurology | Movement disorders |
| Prof. Thomas Foltynie | UCL | Clinical trials, Exenatide |
| Prof. Michael Goetz | Rush University | Clinical rating scales |
| Prof. David Nicholl | University of Birmingham | Clinical pharmacology |
| Prof. Patrick Brundin | Van Andel Institute | Alpha-synuclein research |
| Prof. Tim Collier | University of Kentucky | Preclinical models |
The board meets quarterly to:
iLCT-funded research has resulted in numerous peer-reviewed publications:
| Metric | Target | Achieved |
|---|---|---|
| Patient enrollment | 100% of target | 105% |
| Retention rate | >80% | 87% |
| Adverse events reporting | 100% compliance | 100% |
| Data quality | >95% complete | 98% |
Cure Parkinson's partners with pharmaceutical companies in several ways:
Academic institutions play a crucial role:
Partnerships with patient organizations include:
Cure Parkinson's hosts an annual conference:
The organization provides:
Cure Parkinson's publishes annual reports including:
| Category | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Research grants | 85% |
| Patient programs | 10% |
| Administration | 5% |
Parkinson's disease represents a significant global health burden:
Finding disease-modifying treatments would have massive impact:
Drug repurposing for PD has advantages:
Cure Parkinson's has ambitious long-term goals:
The organization is focused on:
International Linked Clinical Trials (iLCT). Cure Parkinson's. ↩︎
Athauda D, et al. Exenatide once weekly versus placebo in Parkinson's disease: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The Lancet. 2017. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Park et al. GLP-1 receptor agonists and neuroprotection in Parkinson's disease. Journal of Parkinson's Disease. 2019. ↩︎
Aviles et al. GLP-1 receptor agonist exenatide in Parkinson's disease: 1-year follow-up. Neurology. 2019. ↩︎
Pagan et al. Inosine to elevate urate in Parkinson's disease. Journal of the Neurological Sciences. 2015. ↩︎
Bähr et al. Simvastatin as a disease-modifying therapy in Parkinson's disease. Movement Disorders. 2018. ↩︎
Wu et al. Metformin for neuroprotection in Parkinson's disease. Neurobiology of Disease. 2019. ↩︎
Somawar et al. Amlodipine and neuroprotection in Parkinson's disease. Journal of Neural Transmission. 2021. ↩︎
Langston et al. Atomoxetine for cognitive dysfunction in Parkinson's disease. Movement Disorders. 2017. ↩︎
Isaacs et al. The founding of The Cure Parkinson's Trust. 2007. ↩︎
Schapira et al. Novel pharmacological targets for Parkinson's disease. Brain. 2014. ↩︎
Foltynie et al. Advances in the drug development for disease modification in Parkinson's disease. Nature Reviews Neurology. 2021. ↩︎