The first patient has been implanted with a drug delivery system developed by Renishaw for a study investigating it as a delivery method for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

The procedure was performed at Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden, and represents the beginning of a joint clinical study between Renishaw and Herantis Pharma.

Paul Skinner, general manager for Renishaw’s Neurological Products Division, said: “Renishaw’s drug delivery system could be revolutionary in improving treatment options for Parkinson’s disease.

“The system enables the delivery of large drug molecules, such as cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor (CDNF), directly into the brain – circumventing the blood-brain barrier.

“The drug delivery system consists of four catheters which, during the procedure, are accurately implanted into the patient’s putamen, one of the key regions of the brain affected by Parkinson’s disease,” Skinner continued.

“The catheters converge in a port mounted to the skull behind the ear, through which drugs will be administered on a monthly basis as part of the study.

“The system can also be used with other new drug candidates that need to be delivered to precise areas of the brain, which could be crucial in the development of treatments for this and other debilitating diseases.”

This clinical study, which has received funding from Horizon 2020, will involve 18 volunteers across three sites – two in Sweden and one in Finland.

It will evaluate the safety and tolerability of the drug delivery system and CDNF, a large molecule that could slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease, improving the quality of life for patients and prolonging their lives.

Following this study, it is hoped that Renishaw’s delivery system will be used in clinical trials for other neurological disorders.

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