A once-a-week shot from Australian scientists could spare people with Parkinson's the grind of taking pills several times a day.
The tiny, biodegradable gel sits under the skin and releases steady doses of two key medicines all week long, aiming for steadier symptom control, fewer side effects, and a much simpler routine. Early lab tests look safe and effective, and the team hopes to move into human trials soon.
Weekly Injectable Breakthrough for Parkinson's
A once-a-week injection could greatly ease life for the more than eight million people who live with Parkinson's disease by replacing the daily routine of swallowing multiple pills.
Researchers at the University of South Australia (UniSA) have designed a long-acting shot that supplies a steady, seven-day dose of levodopa and carbidopa, the two main medicines used to control Parkinson's symptoms.
Details of their work appear in the journal Drug Delivery and Translational Research.
Biodegradable Delivery System Cuts Pill Burden
The formulation, made from biodegradable materials, is injected just under the skin or into muscle. It then releases the medication gradually for an entire week.
Parkinson's disease is the world's second most common neurological condition, affecting more than 8.5 million people. Although no cure exists, tremors, stiffness, and slowed movement can be managed with oral drugs that often have to be taken several times a day.
This frequent dosing can be hard on patients, especially older adults or anyone who has trouble swallowing tablets. Irregular timing of doses causes uneven drug levels, extra side effects, and less dependable relief.
Researchers Highlight Life-Changing Potential
Lead researcher Professor Sanjay Garg, from UniSA's Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation, says the newly developed injectable could significantly improve treatment outcomes and patient adherence.
"Our goal was to create a formulation that simplifies treatment, improves patient compliance, and maintains consistent therapeutic levels of medication. This weekly injection could be a game-changer for Parkinson's care," Prof Garg says.
"Levodopa is the gold-standard therapy for Parkinson's, but its short life span means it must be taken several times a day."
Steady Week-Long Release via Smart Polymer Gel
UniSA PhD student Deepa Nakmode says the in-situ implant is designed to release both levodopa and carbidopa steadily over one week, maintaining consistent plasma levels and reducing the risks associated with fluctuating drug concentrations.
"After years of focused research, it's incredibly rewarding to see our innovation in long-acting injectables for Parkinson's disease reach this stage. Our invention has now been filed for an Australian patent," Nakmode says.
The injectable gel combines an FDA-approved biodegradable polymer, PLGA, with Eudragit L-100, a pH-sensitive polymer, to achieve a controlled and sustained drug release.
Lab Results Show High Release and Safety
Extensive lab tests confirmed the system's effectiveness and safety:
- More than 90% of the levodopa dose and more than 81% of the carbidopa dose were released over seven days.
- The implant degraded by over 80% within a week and showed no significant toxicity in cell viability tests.
- The formulation can be easily administered through a fine 22-gauge needle, minimizing discomfort and eliminating the need for surgical implant.
Broader Impact and Path Toward Clinical Trials
"The implications of this research are profound," Prof Garg says. "By reducing the frequency of dosing from multiple times a day to a weekly injection is a major step forward in Parkinson's therapy. We're not just improving how the drug is delivered; we're improving patients' lives."
Prof Garg says the technology could also be adapted for other chronic conditions such as cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, pain management, and chronic infections that require long-term drug delivery.
The system can be tuned to release drugs over a period ranging from a few days to several weeks depending on therapeutic needs.
UniSA scientists hope to start clinical trials in the near future and are exploring commercialization opportunities.
Reference: "Development of an in-situ forming implant system for levodopa and carbidopa for the treatment of parkinson's disease" by Deepa D. Nakmode, Sadikalmahdi Abdella, Yunmei Song and Sanjay Garg, 7 June 2025, Drug Delivery and Translational Research.
DOI: 10.1007/s13346-025-01892-y
News
The world’s first AI Hospital, developed in China is transforming healthcare
Artificial Intelligence and its developments have had a revolutionary impact on society, and healthcare is not an exception. China has made massive strides in AI integrated healthcare, and continues to do so as AI [...]
Scientists Rewire Immune Cells To Supercharge Cancer-Fighting Power
Blocking a single protein boosts T cell metabolism and tumor-fighting strength. The discovery could lead to next-generation cancer immunotherapies. Scientists have identified a strategy to greatly enhance the cancer-fighting abilities of the immune system’s [...]
Scientists Discover 20 Percent of Human DNA Comes from a Mysterious Ancestor
Humans carry a complex genetic history that continues to reveal surprises. Scientists have found that 20% of our DNA may come from a mysterious ancestor, according to WP Tech. This discovery changes how we understand [...]
AI detects early prostate cancer missed by pathologists
Men assessed as healthy after a pathologist analyses their tissue sample may still have an early form of prostate cancer. Using AI, researchers at Uppsala University have been able to find subtle tissue changes [...]
The Rare Mutation That Makes People Immune to Viruses
Some people carry a rare mutation that makes them resistant to viruses. Now scientists have copied that effect with an experimental mRNA therapy that stopped both flu and COVID in animal trials — raising [...]
Nanopore technique for measuring DNA damage could improve cancer therapy and radiological emergency response
Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a new technology for measuring how radiation damages DNA molecules. This novel technique, which passes DNA through tiny openings called nanopores, detects [...]
AI Tool Shows Exactly When Genes Turn On and Off
Summary: Researchers have developed an AI-powered tool called chronODE that models how genes turn on and off during brain development. By combining mathematics, machine learning, and genomic data, the method identifies exact “switching points” that [...]
Your brain could get bigger – not smaller – as you age
recently asked myself if I’ll still have a healthy brain as I get older. I hold a professorship at a neurology department. Nevertheless, it is difficult for me to judge if a particular brain, [...]
Hidden Cost of Smart AI: 50× More CO₂ for a Single Question
Every time we ask an AI a question, it doesn’t just return an answer—it also burns energy and emits carbon dioxide. German researchers found that some “thinking” AI models, which generate long, step-by-step reasoning [...]
Genetically-engineered immune cells show promise for preventing organ rejection
A Medical University of South Carolina team reports in Frontiers in Immunology that it has engineered a new type of genetically modified immune cell that can precisely target and neutralize antibody-producing cells complicit in organ rejection. [...]
Building and breaking plastics with light: Chemists rethink plastic recycling
What if recycling plastics were as simple as flicking a switch? At TU/e, Assistant Professor Fabian Eisenreich is making that vision a reality by using LED light to both create and break down a [...]
Generative AI Designs Novel Antibiotics That Defeat Defiant Drug-Resistant Superbugs
Harnessing generative AI, MIT scientists have created groundbreaking antibiotics with unique membrane-targeting mechanisms, offering fresh hope against two of the world’s most formidable drug-resistant pathogens. With the help of artificial intelligence, MIT researchers have [...]
AI finds more breast tumors earlier than traditional double radiologist review
AI is detecting tumors more often and earlier in the Dutch breast cancer screening program. Those tumors can then be treated at an earlier stage. This has been demonstrated by researchers led by Radboud [...]
Lavender oil could speed recovery after brain surgery
A week of lavender-scented nights helped brain surgery patients sleep more deeply, shorten delirium, and feel calmer, pointing to a simple, natural aid for post-surgery care. A randomized controlled trial investigating the therapeutic impact [...]
Targeting Nanoparticles for Heart Repair
Scientists have engineered dual-membrane nanoparticles that home in on heart tissue after a heart attack, delivering regenerative molecules while evading the body’s immune defences. Myocardial infarction, better known as a heart attack, is a [...]
Natural Compound Combo Restores Aging Brain Cells
Scientists have identified a natural compound combination that reverses aging-related brain cell decline and removes harmful Alzheimer’s-linked proteins. The treatment, combining nicotinamide (vitamin B3) and the green tea antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate, restores guanosine triphosphate [...]
