The Parkinson's & Movement Disorder Foundation (PMDF)
Newsletter - Winter 2011
President's Letter
Dear Friends of PMDF,
In our previous (summer) newsletter, I announced the beginning of my exercise program and promised a progress report in this issue. I’d like to report that I have been exercising regularly daily and have noticed a significant improvement in my symptoms and overall wellbeing. Unfortunately, that isn’t the way it went. Habits of a lifetime die hard, and I didn’t continue my program past the first day. I did attend a support group, however, and one of the things discussed was local exercise classes. I began attending a weekly dance class and a twice-weekly exercise group. These groups give me about four hours of stretching, balance, weight training, and mildly aerobic exercise each week. In addition, they get me out of the house and interacting with other Parkinson’s patients. They’re fun and good for me, a winning combination. Maybe I’ll even start doing some of the exercises at home. If you are a Parkinson’s patient or caregiver, I encourage you to seek out a nearby support group and attend meetings. You’ll meet friendly and interesting people and find out about other helpful resources.
A number of people told me that they really enjoyed the PMDF fundraiser at Los Alamitos. It was a fun evening, with good food, exciting racing, and great auction items. There are pictures later in the newsletter. Many thanks to the fundraiser committee (Ken Garrison, Karen Zent, Kellie Binder, and Paul Williams), Carol Bixby, volunteers, sponsors and donors, and all who attended for making this event successful.
Much of the money PMDF spends on research comes from the fundraiser, but individual donations are important as well. As the end of the year approaches, please consider making a donation to PMDF to improve our ability to sponsor important research on Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders.
Have a happy holiday season!
Sincerely,
Mark Wadsworth
PMDF President
Xeomine® a new botulinum toxin
Xeomin® (incobotulinumtoxinA) is a new formulation of botulinum toxin type A. It has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration in 2010. Xeomin is approved for the treatment of cervical dystonia and benign essential blepharospasm.
Xeomin is similar to other forms of botulinum toxin type A, such as Botox® in a number of ways. It is given by injection into affected muscles. It works by blocking the release of acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is a chemical that sends messages from nerve to muscle to cause muscle contraction. Xeomin only affects the muscles at the areas injected so the muscles do not stop contracting altogether.
Xeomin is different from other forms of botulinum toxin in an important way. Other forms include both the active drug (botulinum toxin) and extra proteins. Xeomin is the first form of botulinum toxin type A that contains only the active ingredient. It does not contain any of the extra proteins. It is not clear how this difference may affect treatment, but some theories are being tested.
We recently served as an investigator in a large clinical trial of Xeomin in patients with cervical dystonia. The study was conducted at 37 clinics in the United States. The study included 233 men and women, 18-75 years of age, with cervical dystonia. Some of the patients had been treated with Botox® prior to this trial and others had never been treated with botulinum toxin.
Patients in the study were randomly assigned (by chance, like the flip of a coin) to receive one injection with 120 U Xeomin, 240 U Xeomin, or placebo. The placebo looked like the Xeomin and was injected in the same way but contained no active medication.
Before receiving the injection, at 4 weeks, 8 weeks and at the end of the study (about 20 weeks), patients completed the Toronto Western Spasmodic
Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTRS), which measures motor symptoms, disability and pain. They also completed an evaluation of overall response. Researchers rated patient improvement at each visit as well as side effects from the treatment.
The results of the study showed that both doses of Xeomin produced significantly
greater improvement than placebo on the TWSTRS total score and on the motor, disability and pain subscales. Patient ratings of overall improvement were also significantly higher after active doses of Xeomin than after placebo. Most patients
reported that they had experienced "marked improvement" in symptoms
over the course of the study.
The investigator ratings also showed that patients treated with Xeomin responded significantly better than those treated with placebo. Investigators rated the efficacy of Xeomin as very good or good in up to 36% of patients. They rated the treatment response to placebo as poor in 70% of patients. Xeomin was well tolerated. The most frequent side effects related to treatment were difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), neck pain and muscle weakness. Most of the side effects were mild or moderate in severity. There were no differences between groups in ratings of tolerability. Tolerability was rated as good or very good in most subjects.
Taken together, the results of the study show that both doses of Xeomin were significantly better than placebo in reducing the symptoms of CD at 4, 8, and as many as 20 weeks after a single injection.
Future studies will evaluate the safety and efficacy of Xeomin after repeated doses, and after doses that are individualized to specific patient needs.
Ask your neurologist or movement disorder specialist
if Xeomin is right for you.
From 2004 - 2009
What PMDF have donated from the fundraiser?
Download PMDI Research Award Table
Our Team
The Parkinson's & Movement Disorder Foundation relies upon its Board of Directors to maintain the vision, promote the mission, and support the Parkinson's disease community of the Southern California.
These are the people who work daily to carry out NPF's mission:
Board of Directors
- Mark Wadsworth, President
- Mary Ann Chapman, PhD., V.P.
- Jon Cicchetti, Treasurer
- Karen Zent, Secretary
- Kellie Binder, R.N., M.S.N.
- Timothy L. Neufeld
- Paul Williams
- Deborah Wilson
- Kenneth Garrison
- Linda Sonnonstine Spery
Honorary Advisory Board
- Hon. Loretta Sanchez
- Tom Railsback, Ret. U.S. Congressman
- Victor Tsao
Medical Advisors
- Daniel D. Truong, MD
- Victor Passy, MD
Executive Director
- Vi Tran