Parkinson's Disease Treatments Update: New Weekly Injection Could Help Manage Neurological Disorder

Australian scientists have developed a revolutionary weekly injection that could end the daily pill burden for 8.5 million people living with Parkinson's disease worldwide.

The innovative biodegradable gel delivers a controlled release of levodopa and carbidopa—the gold-standard therapy for Parkinson's disease.

Unlike current treatments requiring multiple daily tablets, this single weekly injection maintains steady medication levels, potentially eliminating the debilitating peaks and troughs that plague conventional therapy.

The breakthrough treatment from the University of South Australia promises to transform how patients manage the world's second most common neurological disorder.

A Breakthrough in Drug Delivery

The new injectable, developed over two years by UniSA's Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation, combines levodopa, the gold-standard therapy for Parkinson's, with carbidopa in a biodegradable gel using FDA-approved PLGA and pH-sensitive Eudragit L-100 polymers.

Administered via a 22-gauge needle under the skin or into muscle, the in-situ implant releases medication steadily over seven days, addressing the burden of frequent dosing.

Lead researcher Professor Sanjay Garg told Australian Ageing Agenda, 'Our goal was to create a formulation that simplifies treatment, improves patient compliance, and maintains consistent therapeutic levels of medication.'

Laboratory tests confirmed that over 90% of levodopa and 81% of carbidopa were released over a week, with the implant degrading by more than 80% and showing no significant toxicity.

UniSA PhD student Deepa Nakmode added, 'After years of focused research, it's advantageous to see our innovation reach this stage.' The formulation has been filed for an Australian patent.

Addressing Patient Challenges

Parkinson's disease, affecting over 150,000 Australians, causes tremors, rigidity, and slow movement, with no cure available.

Current oral medications typically require three to five daily doses, which can be challenging for elderly patients or those with swallowing difficulties.

'Even if they miss a single dose, they can't perform day-to-day activities normally,' Nakmode told ABC News, highlighting the fluctuating drug concentrations that lead to increased side effects and reduced effectiveness.

Parkinson's Australia CEO Olivia Nassaris called the innovation a game-changer, stating, 'There hasn't been much progress in Parkinson's medications for years.'

Future Prospects and Broader Applications

The UniSA team is preparing for animal testing within six months, pending ethics approvals, with plans for clinical trials and commercialisation to follow.

The technology's flexibility allows for tuning the release of drugs over days to weeks, with potential applications for other chronic conditions, such as cancer and diabetes.

Reducing the frequency of dosing from multiple times a day to a weekly injection is a significant step forward in Parkinson's therapy. We're not just improving how the drug is delivered; we're improving patients' lives,' Garg told Neuroscience News.

X posts reflect optimism, with @parkinsonstory noting, 'A weekly injectable implant for Parkinson's can steadily release levodopa and carbidopa, reducing off times and the need for daily dosing,' and @fklivestolearn calling it a game-changer in neurology.

The study, published in Drug Delivery and Translational Research, represents a significant step toward improving the quality of life for patients with Parkinson's disease.

However, challenges remain, including scaling production and ensuring affordability, with estimated costs for clinical trials at £10 million ($13 million).

The UniSA team's work also inspires parallel research globally, with trials in the US and Europe exploring similar long-acting formulations for neurodegenerative disorders, signalling a new era in neurological care.

For millions struggling with Parkinson's motor symptoms whilst juggling handfuls of daily tablets, this weekly injection offers more than convenience—it promises improved quality of life through consistent, reliable treatment that works with patients' lives, not against them.