Nilotinib update: Where we stand with
a cancer drug for Parkinson's Disease

In 2015, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, the Van Andel Research Institute and the Cure Parkinson’s Trust announced plans to collaborate to assess the clinical use and development of cancer drug nilotinib. But what is this drug and how much promise does it have against PD?

Nilotinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that has shown promise in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. There have been several studies conducted on the use of nilotinib in Parkinson’s disease, but most of them are still in the early stages of research and have not yet been published in peer-reviewed journals.

One study published in the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease in 2020 examined the safety and tolerability of nilotinib in a small group of people with Parkinson’s disease. The study found that nilotinib was generally well-tolerated and did not cause any serious adverse effects. The researchers also observed some improvement in motor function and cognition in some participants.

Another study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation in investigated the potential mechanisms of action of nilotinib in Parkinson’s disease. The study found that nilotinib may improve the function of lysosomes, which are cellular structures involved in clearing away waste and toxic proteins, and may also reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the brain.

Overall, while there is some promising early research on the use of nilotinib in Parkinson’s disease, larger and more rigorous studies are needed to determine its safety and efficacy in treating this condition.