Study Rationale:
Reset Therapeutics, Inc. (Reset) will develop a new therapy to address excessive daytime sleepiness, a common non-motor symptom in Parkinson’s disease (PD). The natural daily rhythm of wakefulness and sleepiness (circadian rhythm) is disrupted in Parkinson’s; up to half of individuals with PD regularly experience excessive daytime sleepiness and many fall asleep during the day without warning.
Hypothesis:
We believe that natural sleep/wake cycles can be restored in individuals with Parkinson’s with a treatment that improves alertness during the day and makes it easier to sleep at night.
Study Design:
We will develop and test compounds, called orexin receptor modulators, which enhance the activity of wake-promoting signals in our body. The compounds will first be tested in the laboratory to measure important chemical properties and to show that the compounds will be safe. Promising compounds will be evaluated in pre-clinical models to evaluate their impact on activity throughout the sleep/wake cycle.
Impact on Diagnosis/Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease:
Improving alertness during the day and sleep quality at night may help improve quality of life in individuals with Parkinson’s.
Next Steps for Development:
Safety and efficacy of these compounds will be further assessed in pre-clinical models of PD.