Our research leads to new trial of 'iron removal' drug for Parkinson's

12 September 2011

Exciting new research at Imperial College London Hospital is getting underway to test deferiprone - a drug that helps remove excess iron from the body - as a new treatment for Parkinson's.

This trial involves 45 people with Parkinson's.

It will test whether deferiprone can improve the symptoms of Parkinson's or even slow the progression of the condition - something no current drug can do.

What does deferiprone do?

Deferiprone is used to treat conditions, like the blood disorder thalassaemia, where there is too much iron present in the body.

It works by combining with iron to form a complex that the body can remove, and this reduces the level of iron in the body.

This new trial of deferiprone builds on existing research that we have funded:

• Researchers using human brain tissue from the Parkinson's UK Brain Bank found that the nerve cells affected in Parkinson's contain too much iron.
• Parkinson's UK-funded research suggests that increased levels of iron in the brain may play a part in nerve cell death.
• Studies have shown that deferiprone can improve symptoms of Parkinson's and rescue dying nerve cells in 5 different rodent models of the condition.

Taking discoveries to the next level

Dr Kieran Breen, our Director of Research and Innovation, comments:

"It's great to see research funded by Parkinson's UK reaching the next level.

"In particular, this new trial highlights the vital importance of the Parkinson's UK Brain Bank.

"Without the initial studies using human brain tissue from our Brain Bank, we wouldn't have known that iron levels are higher inside the Parkinson's brain, and this new study wouldn't be happening.

"If effective, deferiprone may prove to be a vital drug for slowing the progression of Parkinson's."

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