Peptron, a company specializing in R&D of drugs with long-term efficacy, said Thursday that it has administered the first dose of Parkinson's disease treatment PT320 to selected patients in phase 2 clinical trials.

The company said its clinical trial would likely gather additional momentum, as the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital and Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center joined it, in addition to the Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul Asan Medical Center and Samsung Medical Center

Peptron’s PT320 is aimed to develop the first fundamental remedy of Parkinson's disease treatment, not stopping at relieving symptoms, it said.

Its safety and disease-modifying effect were confirmed in the clinical trials, it added.

Specifically, Peptron said, the drug has sharply improved blood-brain barrier permeability with the sustained-release treatment developed by its patented technology to maximize the therapeutic effect.

Besides, PT320 can prevent severe side effects resulting from the long-term intake of levodopa, the existing standard treatment for Parkinson's disease, increasing its possibility to be chosen as the first treatment, Peptron said in a news release.

"Excellent researchers from various institutions are focusing on the research and development of PT320 to develop another ‘first-in-class' drug,” Peptron CEO Choi Ho-il said. “We will be able to achieve more meaningful results, starting with the first administration of the drug on patients."