First Drug for Huntington's Disease - Solutions Magazine, Winter 2008 - Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas

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	First Drug for Huntington's Disease The first effective treatment for the symptoms of Huntington's disease has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The drug won approval after a study by Baylor College of Medicine and the Huntington Study Group, an international group of physician scientists, showed the drug's effectiveness. Huntington's disease is a rare, inherited neurological disorder affecting about 30,000 people in the United States. Another 200,000 are at risk of developing the condition. One symptom of Huntington's disease is abnormal involuntary movement, called chorea, which is thought to be caused by overactivity of the neurotransmitter dopamine. The drug, tetrabenazine (which will be marketed as Xenazine), eases these movements for patients. "Tetrabenazine works by depleting dopamine levels in the brain," said Joseph Jankovic, M.D., Professor of Neurology and Director of the Parkinson Disease Center and Movement Disorder Clinic at BCM. "In 1979, I was granted special permission from the FDA to treat patients with the drug. Since that time, I've treated thousands of people with tetrabenazine and have seen amazing results that translated into marked improvement in the quality of life."		Search all issues: Features Baylor College of Medicine in Houston: 65 years of Excellence BCM Looks to the Future on the McNair Campus Legacy of Leadership: BCM Icons Set Foundation for the Future 1,000 Genomes Project: Looking for the Differences News O'Malley Receives National Medal of Science Robert Todd Named to Lead BCM's Department of Medicine Roy Huffington Remembered as Bold and Generous Spotlight Following his Passion—One Physician's Journey The Search for Answers When Two Degrees are Better Than One: M.D. - M.P.H. Thomas Street—The Road to Health Perceiving—A new Look at Brain and Behavior Briefs Mind Games Wang Wins NIH Award Genetics Used to Personalize Heart Disease Treatment First Drug for Huntington's Disease Eye Problems from Pain Free Migraines Obesity also Causes Cirrhosis Genetic Insights into Deadly Brain Tumor Made-to-Order Weapon in the Fight Against Childhood Cancer BCM Joins Largest Children's Study Development/Alumni Minds & Medicine Campaign Update: McNair Campus gets First Tenants -- Ophthalmology Philanthropy Provided Key Assistance Gifts Help Restore Sight to Patients with Corneal Damage Alums Start Careers, Life Together at BCM Development Briefs Campaign Reaches Milestone Charitable Gifts Lead to National Recognition Trustee Chuck Watson Makes Unique Gift The Legacy and the Future

	Volume 4, Issue 3, Winter 2008



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Last modified: December 19, 2008