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# # # # Since the results of a Phase 2b clinical trial were published in 2017, the Parkinson’s community has focused a lot of attention on a class of diabetes drugs called Glucagon-like peptide-1 (or GLP-1) agonists. Last year, the results of another Phase 2 GLP-1 agonist study in Parkinson’s provided further encouraging data. And a lot of people had high hopes for a large Phase 3 clinical trial that reported this year. Unfortunately, the new results did not replicate the previous findings. In today’s post, we will look at what GLP-1 agonists are, what the Phase 3 results report, and consider possible next steps for the field. EDITORIAL NOTE: While the UK Government (National Institute for Health and Care Research) was the primary funder of the Phase 3 exenatide study, Cure Parkinson’s did fund brain imaging and wearable sub-studies attached to the trial. The author of this blog is an employee of Cure Parkinson’s. # # # # |
The Gila monster. Source: Californiaherps
Some interesting facts about the Gila (pronounced ‘Hila’) monster:
- They are named after the Gila River Basin of New Mexico and Arizona (where these lizards were first found – a beautiful part of the world!)
- They are protected by State law
- They are venomous, but very sluggish creatures
- They spend 90% of their time underground in burrows (Source).
Source: docseward
So how do they survive? What do they eat?
Good question. They are opportunistic and infrequent eaters. When outside, Gila monsters will eat small birds, snakes, lizards, frogs, and insects. They store fat in their tails and as a result they do not need to eat often. Wikipedia says that “Three to four extensive meals in spring are claimed to give Gila monsters enough energy for a whole season“, noting that they are “capable of consuming up to one-third of their body weight in a single meal” (Source).
But once they have digested the food, don’t they get hungry after a day or so?
Well, the Gila monster has an amazing ability to maintain a constant blood sugar level even after long periods without food. And this particular feature intrigued some scientists who started digging into the biological mechanism behind this superpower.
And what did they find?
The Science of Parkinson's 