Trial of Ursodeoxycholic Acid (UDCA) for Parkinson's Disease: The "UP" Study

Summary

The aim of this study is to explore the potential of Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) to slow down the progression of Parkinson's Disease (PD) in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, "proof of concept" study. The primary objective of the study will be to determine the safety and tolerability of this drug in patients with PD. Participants will be recruited form a cohort of patients who have been diagnosed with PD within the last 3 years and are potentially suitable for this study. There is strong evidence from previous research and the work carried out by other groups that UDCA rescues the function of the mitochondria (mitochondria are the "powerhouse" of the cell) in PD patient tissue and other models of PD. This suggests that UDCA may slow down the worsening of PD. UDCA has been in clinical use for the treatment of liver disease (primary biliary cholangitis) for over 30 years. The investigators therefore know that it is safe and well tolerated in patients with liver disease but the investigators don't know yet whether this is also the case in patients with PD. Furthermore, the dose used for patients with liver disease (15 mg/kg) is not high enough for UDCA to get into the brain. The investigators therefore need to double the dose to 30 mg/kg. This higher dose was also safe in clinical trials for liver disease, but is currently not used routinely in clinical practice.

Timeline

Start

2018-12-18

Primary completion

2021-05-13

Completion

2021-05-13

Publications

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