In a landmark development for neurodegenerative disease research, the United Kingdom has launched the world’s largest clinical trial aimed at identifying treatments that could slow or halt the progression of Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson’s disease is the fastest-growing neurological condition globally, characterised by a gradual decline in motor and cognitive functions. It currently has no cure, and available treatments only manage symptoms without halting disease progression.
The trial initiative comes as a beacon of hope not only for patients in the UK, but also for countries like India, which are witnessing a sharp rise in Parkinson’s diagnosis, particularly among younger populations.
The £26-million Edmond J Safra Accelerating Clinical Trials in Parkinson’s Disease (EJS ACT-PD) programme is a collaborative effort led by University College London (UCL) and Newcastle University, in partnership with major global research institutions and charities. The study adopts a ground-breaking multi-arm, multi-stage (MAMS) trial design—allowing multiple treatments to be tested simultaneously and reducing drug evaluation timelines by up to three years.
Recruitment is currently underway for 1,600 participants across more than 40 hospitals in the UK, with initial enrolment already begun at UCL and Newcastle. Additional sites are expected to join by April 2026. Individuals living with Parkinson’s in the UK can register their interest through a dedicated online portal.
The trial will initially evaluate two repurposed drugs: a blood pressure medication and another used to treat an enlarged prostate—both with well-established safety profiles. As the study progresses, data will be continuously monitored. Ineffective treatments will be removed, and promising candidates advanced, with flexibility to add new treatment arms within the same infrastructure.
“Our goal is to go beyond symptom relief,” said Prof. Thomas Foltynie, Co-Chief Investigator and neurologist at UCL’s Queen Square Institute of Neurology. “We are prioritising compounds with credible prior evidence and aiming to establish a framework that could serve as a model for future neurodegenerative disease trials.”
Prof. John Simpson, Director of the MRC-NIHR Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation Programme, hailed the project as a "landmark moment" in the search for transformative therapies. “This collaborative, scalable trial model is key to accelerating innovation in the life sciences sector,” he said.
The study is jointly funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC), National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), Parkinson’s UK, Cure Parkinson’s, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, The John Black Charitable Foundation, The Gatsby Charitable Foundation, and the Van Andel Institute.
In addition to its core objectives, the trial also integrates sub-studies—exploring the use of wearable digital devices to monitor symptoms in real time, and investigating molecular biomarkers of Parkinson’s in biological samples. These components are being supported by the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the UCLH Biomedical Research Centre. The Research Delivery Network (RDN) is supporting the trial’s nationwide implementation.
Reacting to the development, Dr. Rajinder Dhamija, Director of the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), Delhi, and a leading movement disorder specialist, said the trial offers a ray of hope for India, which is now home to one of the highest absolute numbers of Parkinson’s patients globally.
“India is witnessing a worrying trend of younger individuals being diagnosed with Parkinson’s,” Dr. Dhamija said. “While the global average age of onset is above 60, data from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) shows many Indian patients developing symptoms between 22 and 49 years, classifying them as early-onset Parkinson’s cases. This initiative in the UK could help accelerate breakthroughs that benefit Indian patients as well.”
Estimates suggest that Parkinson’s disease cases in India could rise sharply by 2050, underscoring the urgency of research collaborations and access to emerging therapies, said Dr Dhamija who is not part of the study. “The trial offers a promising model—both in scientific rigour and international cooperation—for countries like India to adapt and build upon,” he added.
