A groundbreaking weekly injectable drug developed by scientists at the University of South Australia (UniSA) promises to revolutionize Parkinson’s disease treatment, potentially freeing over eight million individuals worldwide from the burden of multiple daily oral medications.
The innovative formulation, detailed in the journal Drug Delivery and Translational Research, delivers a steady, week-long dose of levodopa and carbidopa, the cornerstones of parkinson’s symptom management. This biodegradable injectable, administered under the skin or into muscle, gradually releases the medication over seven days, addressing a meaningful challenge in current Parkinson’s care.
Parkinson’s disease, the second most common neurological disorder, affects more than 8.5 million people globally.While incurable, its symptoms-tremors, rigidity, and slowed movement-are managed with oral medications requiring frequent dosing. This regimen can be particularly taxing for elderly patients or those with swallowing difficulties, often leading to inconsistent drug levels, increased side effects, and diminished treatment efficacy.
professor Sanjay Garg, lead researcher at UniSA’s Center for Pharmaceutical Innovation, highlighted the potential impact of this new injectable. “Our goal was to create a formulation that simplifies treatment, improves patient compliance, and maintains consistent therapeutic levels of medication. This weekly injection could be a game-changer for Parkinson’s care,” Prof Garg stated. “Levodopa is the gold-standard therapy for Parkinson’s, but its short life span means it must be taken several times a day.”
UniSA PhD student Deepa Nakmode elaborated on the technology, explaining that the in-situ implant is engineered to release both levodopa and carbidopa steadily over one week. This sustained release aims to maintain consistent plasma levels, thereby reducing the risks associated with fluctuating drug concentrations.”After years of focused research, its incredibly rewarding to see our innovation in long-acting injectables for Parkinson’s disease reach this stage. Our invention has now been filed for an Australian patent,” Nakmode added.
the injectable gel combines PLGA, an FDA-approved biodegradable polymer, with Eudragit L-100, a pH-sensitive polymer, to ensure controlled and sustained drug release. Rigorous laboratory tests have validated the system’s effectiveness and safety:
* Over 90% of the levodopa dose and more than 81% of the carbidopa dose were released within seven days.
* The implant demonstrated significant degradation, exceeding 80% within a week, and showed no notable toxicity in cell viability assessments.
* The formulation is designed for easy administration via a fine 22-gauge needle, minimizing patient discomfort and eliminating the need for surgical implantation.
“The implications of this research are profound,” Prof Garg emphasized. “By reducing the frequency of dosing from multiple times a day to a weekly injection is a major step forward in Parkinson’s therapy. We’re not just improving how the drug is delivered; we’re improving patients’ lives.”
The potential applications of this innovative technology extend beyond Parkinson’s disease, with Prof Garg suggesting it could be adapted for other chronic conditions such as cancer and diabetes, neurodegenera
