Parkinson’s UK Associate Director of Research Prof. David Dexter and PPI volunteer Paula Scurfield, together with some of the research staff at Parkinson’s UK are involved in the new ACT-PD (Accelerated Clinical Trials) initiative. Funded by the Edmond J. Safra Foundation, ACT-PD is a 3-year programme that brings together national and international experts to develop a protocol and sustainable strategy for a multi-arm, multi-stage trial platform to investigate disease-modifying therapies in Parkinson’s disease. A Multi-Arm Multi-Stage (or MAMS) clinical trial is a study that allows for the assessment of several potential therapies at the same time. It also shifts participants seamlessly from a Phase II (safety and efficacy) study to a Phase III trial, by regular within study measures (or interim analyses). These regular assessments of the data as the trial is being conducted are needed so that decisions can be made about which therapies should be carried forward into Phase 3, and which should be stopped.
Sample Photo source: EUPATI
The project’s main aim is to revolutionise the way clinical trials for potentially disease-modifying drugs for Parkinson’s are conducted.
Paula Scurfield attended the launch meeting at the Francis Crick Institute in London on the 23rd of June, and comments here:
The morning’s presentations outlined the use of MAMS trials in neurological disease and improving trial design in PD. Over lunch we met with our working groups, of which there are six: trial design, outcome measures, treatment identification and selection, infrastructure, funding and sustainability, and PPI engagement. The afternoon was spent feeding back to the entire group of attendees, followed by a Q&A session chaired by the two Principal Investigators: Professor Tom Foltynie, UCL, and Dr. Camille Carroll, Plymouth University. It was heartening to see all the brightest stars in the movement disorder firmament gathered together with the aim of identifying, researching potential treatments, and bringing to the clinic therapies designed to improve the lives of those of us with PD.