November 2026 • PharmaTimes Magazine • 9
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Lundbeck presents phase 1b data for Parkinson’s disease therapy
Lundbeck has reported results from an open-label phase 1b trial evaluating Lu AF28996, an investigational oral prodrug of a D1-like/D2-like dopamine receptor agonist, in people with advanced Parkinson’s disease whose motor symptoms remained suboptimally controlled despite optimised non-invasive treatment. The findings are being presented at MDS 2026 in Seoul.
Parkinson’s disease involves progressive degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons. Many people develop motor complications over time, including fluctuations between Good ON-time and OFF-time, and treatment-related dyskinesia.
Existing options for advanced disease often require invasive procedures or continuous drug delivery, highlighting the need for effective non-invasive approaches.
Tarek Samad, Executive Vice President and Head of Research & Development at Lundbeck, said: “Many people with advanced Parkinson’s disease continue to experience motor fluctuations and dyskinesia that can significantly affect daily life.
“We are encouraged by the phase Ib results with Lu AF28996, including the improvements observed alongside substantial reductions in levodopa dose. With the DARE2 phase 2 trial now underway, we are taking the next step in evaluating its potential in a larger, randomised and controlled study.”
In part B of the trial, 34 participants received Lu AF28996 twice daily for six weeks, with 25 continuing for an optional 12-week extension. Most treatment-emergent adverse events were mild, with no unexpected safety signals. The most common events were nausea, dizziness and fall.
SMC accepts AQUIPTA for eligible migraine patients in Scotland
AbbVie has announced that the SMC has accepted AQUIPTA (atogepant) for acute migraine treatment in adults, only if at least two triptans were previously tried without sufficient effect, or triptans were contraindicated or not tolerated, and NSAIDs and paracetamol were also tried but did not work well enough. Suitable patients can now be prescribed atogepant for acute use within NHS Scotland.
The acceptance follows NICE’s recommendation published on June 30, 2026 and the MHRA’s marketing authorisation granted on April 22, 2026. Migraine affects around 600,000 adults in Scotland and is the second leading global cause of years lived with disability among people aged 15 to 49 years.
Migraine is widely misunderstood as merely a headache. Symptoms include recurrent moderate-to-severe throbbing head pain, nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound. The condition can disrupt daily life and prevent people from carrying out everyday activities. It also carries a considerable emotional burden, with many people reporting stigma and dismissal of their symptoms.
Rob Music, CEO at the Migraine Trust, said: “Access to appropriate migraine care can be seriously inconsistent, creating a postcode lottery. We know that many people with migraine struggle to access the treatments they need or had to face long waits to see a specialist before finding the option that works best for them.”
NICE has issued final draft guidance recommending Tryngolza (olezarsen) for adults in England and Wales with genetically confirmed familial chylomicronaemia syndrome, but only when response to diet and conventional triglyceride-lowering treatments has been inadequate.
FCS is an ultra-rare inherited lipid disorder marked by severe hypertriglyceridaemia and a high risk of acute pancreatitis. The condition can lead to severe abdominal pain, hospitalisation, permanent organ dysfunction and death.
Mums whose babies developed life-threatening sepsis and meningitis from group B Streptococcus are urging pregnant women to join a new vaccine study.
The BEATRIX study, supported by the NIHR and sponsored by Pfizer, is the first large-scale phase 3 vaccine trial for GBS. Researchers from the NHS and UK universities, alongside international partners, aim to prevent avoidable infant deaths and stillbirths.
GBS is the leading cause of life-threatening infection in newborns, causing sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis.
Alnylam has welcomed a Scottish Medicines Consortium decision to accept vutrisiran for adults with ATTR-CM, enabling eligible patients to access AMVUTTRA through NHS Scotland. The therapy is the first long-acting disease-modifying option to target the underlying biology of the condition.
Vutrisiran is administered as a subcutaneous injection every three months and delivers rapid, sustained knockdown of transthyretin proteins, observed from six weeks and persisting up to 30 months.
A new Royal College of Nursing report warns that patients are being harmed daily due to severe nurse shortages across England’s NHS.
Trusts are reporting hundreds of ‘red flag’ safety incidents each month, including delayed pain relief, missed vital-sign checks and postponed essential medication. The analysis suggests the NHS is short of around 55,000 registered nurses.
Galderma has announced new NEMLUVIO data to be presented at Fall Clinical 2026, including a post-hoc analysis from the ARCADIA LTE study showing that most adults and adolescents aged 12 and older who responded at week 16 maintained deep and lasting improvements in skin lesions and itch for up to three years. The findings add to growing evidence supporting long-term efficacy in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.
A government-commissioned inquiry warns the NHS is heading for ‘system failures’ as demand for ADHD, autism and wider mental health care surges. The review found soaring distress across all age groups, years-long waits for assessment, and rising overdiagnosis risks. Experts say the system cannot cope.