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A new weekly injectable drug could transform the lives of more than eight million people living with Parkinson’s disease, potentially replacing the need for multiple daily tablets.<\/p>\n
Scientists from the University of South Australia (UniSA) have developed a long-acting injectable formulation that delivers a steady dose of levodopa and carbidopa – two key medications for Parkinson’s – over an entire week.<\/p>\n
Their findings have been reported in the journal Drug Delivery and Translational Research<\/em>.<\/p>\n The biodegradable formulation is injected under the skin or into muscle tissue, where it gradually releases the medication over seven days.<\/p>\n Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurological disorder, affecting more than 8.5 million people worldwide. Currently there is no cure and the symptoms – tremors, rigidity and slow movement – are managed with oral medications that must be taken several times a day.<\/p>\n The frequent dosing is a burden, especially for elderly patients or those with swallowing difficulties, leading to inconsistent medication levels, more side effects, and reduced effectiveness.<\/p>\n Lead researcher Professor Sanjay Garg, from UniSA’s Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation, says the newly developed injectable could significantly improve treatment outcomes and patient adherence.<\/p>\n “Our goal was to create a formulation that simplifies treatment, improves patient compliance, and maintains consistent therapeutic levels of medication. This weekly injection could be a game-changer for Parkinson’s care,” Prof Garg says.<\/p>\n “Levodopa is the gold-standard therapy for Parkinson’s, but its short life span means it must be taken several times a day.”<\/p>\n UniSA PhD student Deepa Nakmode says the in-situ implant is designed to release both levodopa and carbidopa steadily over one week, maintaining consistent plasma levels and reducing the risks associated with fluctuating drug concentrations.<\/p>\n “After years of focused research, it’s incredibly rewarding to see our innovation in long-acting injectables for Parkinson’s disease reach this stage. Our invention has now been filed for an Australian patent,” Nakmode says.<\/p>\n The injectable gel combines an FDA-approved biodegradable polymer PLGA with Eudragit L-100, a pH-sensitive polymer, to achieve a controlled and sustained drug release.<\/p>\n Extensive lab tests confirmed the system’s effectiveness and safety:<\/p>\n “The implications of this research are profound,” Prof Garg says. “By reducing the frequency of dosing from multiple times a day to a weekly injection is a major step forward in Parkinson’s therapy. We’re not just improving how the drug is delivered; we’re improving patients’ lives.”<\/p>\n Prof Garg says the technology could also be adapted for other chronic conditions such as cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, pain management, and chronic infections that require long-term drug delivery.<\/p>\n The system can be tuned to release drugs over a period ranging from a few days to several weeks depending on therapeutic needs.<\/p>\n UniSA scientists hope to start clinical trials in the near future and are exploring commercialisation opportunities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n