New Parkinson's Drug Candidate Cuts Side Effects in Study

For the more than 8.5 million people worldwide living with Parkinson's disease, a new drug candidate offers something that's been missing: hope for better treatment without the trade-offs.

Researchers at Sinopia Biosciences, a startup born at UC San Diego, have developed a compound that tackles both sides of a frustrating problem. Their drug candidate, SB-0110, helps the standard Parkinson's medication work better while reducing the erratic, involuntary movements that develop over time.

The breakthrough addresses a challenge nearly every Parkinson's patient faces. L-dopa, the most effective treatment available, can dramatically improve movement and quality of life. But after years of use, about 90% of patients develop dyskinesia, uncontrollable movements that can be as disabling as the disease itself.

"There is no drug that can be added to L-dopa to address both simultaneously in a robust manner, and that's what our drug candidate is doing," said Aarash Bordbar, CEO and co-founder of Sinopia Biosciences.

The company tested SB-0110 in animal models of Parkinson's disease, and the results exceeded expectations. The compound significantly reduced dyskinesia while improving movement to a degree comparable to increasing the L-dopa dose, but without making the involuntary movements worse.

Bordbar and his team used computational tools to analyze large biological datasets, looking for compounds that could preserve L-dopa's benefits while counteracting the biological changes that cause side effects. They found their answer in an older heart medication with a proven safety record outside the United States.

The company collaborated with movement disorder specialists at UC San Diego, including Distinguished Professors Susan Taylor and J. Andrew McCammon, along with Parkinson's disease experts at specialized research centers. Their work was funded primarily by the National Institutes of Health and the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

The Bright Side

The timing couldn't be more critical. Parkinson's prevalence has doubled globally over the past 25 years, and patients desperately need better options. After nine or more years on L-dopa, about 70% develop periods when symptoms return between doses, forcing impossible choices between symptom relief and side effects.

While the drug won't be available immediately, the path forward is clear. Sinopia is completing the toxicology studies required for regulatory review and hopes to begin testing in humans next year. If trials go well, the treatment could reach patients within six to seven years.

For families watching loved ones struggle with Parkinson's, that timeline represents real progress toward a future where managing the disease doesn't mean accepting debilitating side effects.