Phase 3 trial: Parkinson's pill solengepras cuts 'off' time by about 37 minutes a day
A 341-patient phase 3 trial of solengepras, a once-daily pill that blocks the GPR6 receptor rather than acting on dopamine, found the higher dose gave about 37 minutes less daily 'off' time than placebo. Developer Cerevance plans to talk to regulators, and the pill could be available in two to three years.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2A once-daily pill for Parkinson's disease called solengepras reduced the time patients spent in 'off' periods, when they feel stiff, slow or shaky, in a late-stage trial. The IndependentLC “The drug, called solengepras, cut the time when patients had “off” periods, when they felt unwell or stiff, slow or shaky.” Read at The Independent ↗ Daily MailR “A daily pill for Parkinson's disease has demonstrated huge benefits in a late–stage trial” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Mixed · 2The randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involved 341 people with Parkinson's in the US, Europe, the UK and Australia. They received 75mg or 150mg of solengepras, or a placebo, once a day for 12 weeks, and continued taking their dopamine-based drugs. The IndependentLC “The randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involved 341 people with Parkinson’s across the US, Europe, UK and Australia.” Read at The Independent ↗ Daily MailR “All the patients enrolled in the trial also continued to take levodopa and other dopamine–based drugs” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Mixed · 2Both the solengepras and placebo groups improved. The higher-dose group had about 37 minutes less 'off' time a day than the placebo group, and about 94 minutes less than before the trial began. Daily MailR “the higher–dose solengepras group experienced about 37 minutes less 'off' time each day” Read at Daily Mail ↗ The IndependentLC “Both the patients taking solengepras and those taking the placebo improved over the trial” Read at The Independent ↗
Mixed · 2The higher-dose group also gained about 36 extra minutes a day of 'on' time without troublesome dyskinesia compared with placebo. Patients did better on a scale of everyday activities such as dressing and eating, and reported less daytime sleepiness and better quality of life. The IndependentLC “They also had about 36 extra minutes a day of “on” time without dyskinesia” Read at The Independent ↗ Daily MailR “reported less daytime sleepiness, a common issue with dopamine treatments, and a better quality of life” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Mixed · 2The drug appeared well tolerated, with no serious side effects reported. The Independent said some people had headaches and urinary tract infections. The Daily Mail said 3.5 per cent of patients stopped treatment because of side effects, the same share as on placebo. The IndependentLC “although some people reported headaches and urinary tract infections” Read at The Independent ↗ Daily MailR “only 3.5 per cent of patients stopped treatment because of side effects, which was the same proportion as in the placebo group” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Mixed · 2Most current Parkinson's drugs, such as levodopa, boost or mimic dopamine, and they can cause involuntary movements (dyskinesia), nausea and hallucinations. Solengepras instead blocks a receptor called GPR6 in a brain circuit that acts as a brake on movement. The IndependentLC “Solengepras works differently, blocking a receptor called GPR6 that slows down movement.” Read at The Independent ↗ Daily MailR “solengepras blocks a receptor called GPR6, which is found in a brain circuit that acts like a brake on movement” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Mixed · 2Cerevance, the Boston-based company that developed the drug, will discuss the results with the US Food and Drug Administration, with UK regulator talks expected to follow. The pill could potentially be available within two to three years. The IndependentLC “Ceverance says it will discuss the results with the US Food and Drug Administration to determine the next steps” Read at The Independent ↗ Daily MailR “If everything goes smoothly, the treatment could be available for patients in two to three years.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Mixed · 2Cerevance chief executive Craig Thompson described a consistent pattern of benefit and called solengepras a potential first-in-class non-dopaminergic therapy. Dr Stuart Isaacson, a principal investigator, said it 'gives great hope for the future'. Laurence Barker of SV Health Investors, a Cerevance board member, called it the first positive phase three study for a non-dopaminergic mechanism for a very long time. The IndependentLC “As a potential first-in-class, non-dopaminergic therapy, solengepras gives us the opportunity to evaluate what a new mechanism may offer people with Parkinson’s.” Read at The Independent ↗ Daily MailR “This is the first positive phase three study for a non–dopaminergic mechanism for a very long time.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Mixed · 2About 166,000 people in the UK have been diagnosed with Parkinson's. The Independent adds that more than 10 million people live with it worldwide. The IndependentLC “Around 166,000 people in the UK have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s” Read at The Independent ↗ Daily MailR “About 166,000 people in the UK have been diagnosed with Parkinson's” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Leads with the 'breakthrough' and the 37-minute reduction in 'off' time, with fewer side effects than dopamine drugs.
- Emphasis
- Symptom relief, tolerability, the company's statements and Parkinson's prevalence.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the 3.5 per cent discontinuation rate or the investor ties of the quoted Cerevance backers.
- Charged language
- “Major Parkinson’s breakthrough”
- For example
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“Major Parkinson’s breakthrough as new pill offers hope of treating symptoms and has fewer side-effects” — The Independent
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Leads with 'huge benefits' and the prospect of the first major new class of treatment in decades, with more background on dopamine and levodopa.
- Emphasis
- Mechanism, history of treatment, investor and trial-investigator quotes, discontinuation rate, regulatory timeline.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not list the headaches and urinary tract infections reported; it relays the figures from The Times.
- Charged language
- “huge benefits”“first major new class of treatment in decades”
- For example
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“A daily pill for Parkinson's disease has demonstrated huge benefits in a late–stage trial” — Daily Mail
What every side reports
- The phase 3 trial enrolled 341 people, with 75mg or 150mg solengepras or placebo once daily for 12 weeks.
- The higher dose gave about 37 minutes less daily 'off' time than placebo.
- No serious adverse events were reported.
- Cerevance will talk to the FDA next.
Where accounts differ
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How significant the result is
- Left
- The Independent calls it a 'Major Parkinson's breakthrough' but notes both groups improved and the drug 'appeared well tolerated'.
- Right
- The Daily Mail says the drug showed 'huge benefits' and could be the first major new class of treatment in decades, while also noting the placebo group improved.
Left1 article
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Celebratory Presents the trial as a major breakthrough with fewer side effects, relying on the researchers and the company.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
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Celebratory Presents the drug as a potential new treatment class, quoting an investor, a board member and a trial investigator.
- 7 Oct 16:57 First The IndependentLC Major Parkinson’s breakthrough as new pill offers hope of treating symptoms and has fewer side-effects
- 7 Oct 22:19 +5h 22m Daily MailR Daily pill for Parkinson's disease raises hopes patients could see first major new class of treatment in decades
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.