D&D Pharmatech announced on the 14th that its investigational Parkinson’s disease treatment, NLY01, has been prominently featured in recent studies on GLP-1 receptor agonists and their potential neuroprotective effects in degenerative brain diseases.

GLP-1 receptor agonists are believed to inhibit microglial activation, a key driver of neuroinflammation linked to neurodegenerative disorders, thereby protecting neurons. Reflecting this potential, Novo Nordisk is conducting a global Phase 3 trial with oral semaglutide involving over 3,700 Alzheimer’s disease patients.

The growing academic and industry interest in GLP-1 receptor agonists is evident in recent meta-analyses published in Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology (January 2024) and Parkinsonism and Related Disorders (March 2024). Both studies extensively discuss NLY01’s Phase 2 clinical trial results.

D&D Pharmatech’s CEO, Seulki Lee, stated, “These consecutive research findings further validate the potential of GLP-1 receptor agonists as disease-modifying treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. Notably, NLY01 demonstrated a significant effect in slowing disease progression in Parkinson’s patients under 60, who make up approximately 30% of all cases. Furthermore, similar trends have been observed across multiple clinical trials investigating GLP-1-based treatments for Parkinson’s.”

He added, “The Cure Parkinson’s Trust, a UK-based non-profit specializing in Parkinson’s research, is conducting a comprehensive analysis of various GLP-1 clinical studies, including NLY01. Based on their findings, we anticipate the possibility of launching an additional clinical trial in younger Parkinson’s patients through strategic partnerships.”