Saturday 11 April 2026 marks World Parkinson’s Day, commemorating the birthday of Dr James Parkinson, who first described the condition in 1817. To mark the occasion, we’re sharing some of our highlights from our recent visit to the AD/PD 2026 conference in Copenhagen – moments that stood out to us and reflect the exciting progress being made in Parkinson’s research.
Innovation in therapeutic strategies:
One of the most inspiring aspects of the conference was the breadth of innovative therapeutic approaches on display. Researchers are increasingly thinking beyond traditional drug development models and exploring novel biological systems and mechanisms. Highlights included the use of microglia as drug delivery agents within the brain, as well as engineering live gut bacteria to produce L-dopa, offering a potentially transformative approach to treatment delivery.
Clinical trial momentum:
There was strong momentum across the clinical pipeline, from early-stage programmes to large-scale Phase III trials. A standout session focused on lysosomal biology, highlighting two particularly promising therapeutic candidates now in Phase I trials:
- TTP-34, which activates CREB and is thought to enhance lysosomal function, has shown the ability to rescue Parkinson’s disease pathology in both in vitro and in vivo models.
- VQ-101 (Vanqua Bio), a small molecule allosteric activator of glucocerebrosidase (GCase), demonstrated neuroprotection in models of GBA-associated Parkinson’s disease, alongside strong evidence of target engagement in vivo.
From a different angle, and at a later stage in the clinical pipeline, updates were also shared from the prasinezumab (PADOVA) trial, investigating its use alongside standard L-dopa therapy. Encouragingly, results showed consistent trends in favour of prasinezumab across multiple endpoints, alongside imaging data suggesting increased neuromelanin signal at 76 weeks. A global Phase III study (PARAISO) is now planned, aiming to enrol approximately 900 participants across 18 locations, with a minimum treatment duration of two years.
Advancing cell therapies and early detection:
There was also exciting progress in cell-based therapies, with multiple groups working toward the transplantation of pluripotent stem cell-derived dopaminergic neurons. Several of these programmes are advancing toward Phase III trials, marking an important step forward in regenerative approaches.
In parallel, researchers are making strides in early detection, particularly through seed amplification assays capable of identifying Parkinson’s pathology in cerebrospinal fluid, skin biopsies, and even tear fluid. These advances could enable diagnosis at the prodromal or pre-symptomatic stage, opening the door to earlier and more effective intervention.
Taken together, the advances showcased at AD/PD 2026 reflect a field gaining real momentum. From novel therapeutics to earlier diagnosis, there is increasing confidence that these developments will translate into more effective treatments and better outcomes for people living with Parkinson’s disease. Marking World Parkinson’s Day, this progress highlights how far the field has come, while underlining the need for continued effort to drive further advances.
Alongside attending the conference, we also presented our work in poster sessions. You can find a couple of short (completely unrehearsed!) video summaries of these presentations below:
Amelia Smith; 2nd year DPhil student, Ryan Group (DPAG): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvODAp-HUQI
Sophie Farrow; Parkinson’s UK Senior Research Fellow (DPAG): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpLATqVtyLg
Attendees/authors: Sophie Farrow; Anne Sofie Larsen; Harrison Waters; Sandor Szunyogh; Billy McGuinness; Brent Ryan; Amelia Smith