The Parkinson's research community is celebrating an extraordinary year of progress that's bringing renewed hope to millions of people affected by this condition. According to Cure Parkinson's, 2025 was their most exciting year yet, filled with groundbreaking developments that are paving the way toward truly transformative treatments.

The crown jewel of these achievements is the launch of EJS ACT-PD, the world's largest clinical trial for Parkinson's disease. Announced in October and led by Professor Tom Foltynie from University College London and Professor Camille Carroll from Newcastle University, this innovative trial represents a completely new approach to finding effective treatments. What makes it special is its unique design that allows researchers to test multiple promising therapies at once, all sharing a single placebo group. This brilliant strategy means answers will come faster than ever before.

The trial's first phase alone will involve 1,600 people living with Parkinson's across the UK, offering more individuals than ever before the chance to contribute to life-changing research. It's the largest opportunity for people with Parkinson's to participate in clinical research to date, and that's something truly worth celebrating.

But the good news doesn't stop there. In February, recruitment began for ASPro-PD, a phase 3 clinical trial investigating whether ambroxol, a common cough medicine, can slow Parkinson's progression. The drug works by helping brain cells clear out excess waste, addressing one of the fundamental problems in Parkinson's. This trial will involve 330 participants over two years, and researchers are optimistic about the potential of repurposing this well-understood medication.

The research community also gained valuable insights from the AZA-PD trial results, published in December in the prestigious journal Lancet Neurology. While the immunosuppressant azathioprine didn't show the hoped-for benefits overall, the study revealed intriguing findings about how women's responses differed, opening up exciting new avenues for personalized medicine approaches.

Looking forward, 2026 promises even more exciting developments. Cure Parkinson's has unveiled an updated research strategy that's laser-focused on combination therapies, backing this commitment with a £2 million funding call. The organization has also formed a strategic partnership with Alzheimer's Research UK, bringing together expertise and resources to tackle neurodegenerative diseases more effectively.

Two new trials are set to begin recruiting participants: DAPA-PD and SLEIPNIR, each investigating different promising approaches to slowing disease progression. The World Parkinson Congress will bring together the global research community to share insights and forge new collaborations.

Dr Simon Stott and the team at Cure Parkinson's emphasize that every trial, every partnership, and every new participant brings us closer to the ultimate goal of stopping Parkinson's in its tracks. With momentum building and more people than ever engaged in research, there's genuine reason for optimism that meaningful breakthroughs are on the horizon.