Peptron said it has confirmed that PT320, a Parkinson's disease treatment, blocks side effects caused by levodopa, a conventional treatment for Parkinson's.

Levodopa, which is the most effective drug for controlling symptoms of Parkinson's disease, is excellent in alleviating symptoms but cannot prevent the progression of the disease.

Also, long-term use may cause serious side effects due to resistance and neurotoxicity, and studies have shown side effects such as levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) happen in 50 percent of patients after five years and 90 percent of patients after 10 years.

"The drug was found to have the effect of inhibiting the progression of dyskinesia by more than 80 percent compared to the control group in an animal experiment conducted by Motac, a U.K. research firm," the company said. "We have subsequently filed for a U.S. patent, which will further strengthen the company's patent portfolio."

Unlike levodopa, Peptron's drug protects brain neurons and has a disease-modifying effect that inhibits disease progression and controls the patient's symptoms, the company added.

Peptron also claimed that PT320, developed in a once-weekly dosage form, has a comparative advantage over potential competitors as the blood-brain barrier penetration rate, which is a challenge for developing degenerative brain disease treatment, is significantly higher than that of simple administration by the sustained release method.

"Although levodopa causes serious side effects such as abnormal dyskinesia, there is no alternative medicine," Peptron Clinical Advisor Professor Choi Do-seob said. "Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new drugs that can replace the existing drugs, reduce side effects, or inhibit the progression of LID."

Peptron CEO Choi Ho-il also said, "PT320 has proved to prevent neurotoxic side effects of levodopa, and our company expects that combination therapy of the two will have a great effect."