+39 02 610346.1 - info@newron.com Glossary | Sitemap Home About Us Research and Drug Development Investors and Media Contact Us Analyst Report Glossary Home / Glossary / Glossary Glossary 1. Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) 2. Adjunctive treatment 3. Agonist 4. Allodynia 5. Alpha-aminoamide derivative 6. Alzheimer's disease 7. Benzodiazepines 8. Cannabinoid 9. Central Nervous System (CNS) 10. Chemical scaffold 11. Clinical Global Impression Scale 12. Daily motor fluctuations (the on/off effect) 13. Dopamine 14. Dopamine reuptake 15. Dopaminergic system 16. Double-blind study 17. Dyskinesias 18. Endogenous 19. EPO 20. Executive function 21. GABA 22. Gastrointestinal 23. Glutamate 24. Half-life 25. Inflammatory pain 26. In vitro 27. In vivo 28. Ion channels 29. Levodopa 30. Mania 31. MAO-B (monoamine oxidase B) 32. MAO-B inhibitor 33. Mild Cognitive Impairment 34. Mixed peripheral neuropathic pain 35. N-type calcium channels 36. Nerve Compression 37. Nerve Entrapment 38. Neurodegenerative 39. Neuro-inflammation 40. Neurons 41. Neuropathic Low Back Pain (NLBP) 42. Neuropathic pain 43. Neurotransmitter 44. New Chemical Entity (NCE) 45. Nociceptors 46. NSAIDs 47. Off-label 48. Onset of action 49. On time 50. Open label 51. Opioids 52. Parkinson-s disease (PD) 53. Pivotal study 54. Placebo 55. Product Candidate (or clinical compound) 56. Randomized/randomization 57. Receptor 58. Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) 59. Reuptake 60. Substance P 61. Substantia nigra 62. Titration-up 63. Tricyclic 64. Tetrodotoxin 65. Tetrodotoxin-resistant 66. Tetrodoxotin-sensitive 67. Tyramine 68. UPDRS 1. Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) Routine activities of everyday life that people tend to do on a daily basis without needing assistance. There are six basic ADLs: eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring (walking) and continence. An individual-s ability to perform ADLs is important for determining what type of long-term care (e.g. nursing home care or home care) and coverage the individual needs (i.e. government-funded health care or long-term care insurance). Back to top 2. Adjunctive treatment A drug added as a supplement to increase the efficacy/decrease side effects/change the pharmacokinetics (PK) of another already prescribed treatment, e.g. (i) improve efficacy of a first-line therapy, e.g. adding a dopamine agonist to patients on levodopa, (ii) improve the tolerability and safety of the first-line therapy, e.g. use of anticholinergics to patients on neuroleptics, and (iii)improve the PK/brain availability of the first-line therapy, e.g. COMT-inhibitors administered to patients on levodopa. Back to top 3. Agonist An endogeneous or exogeneous agent that mimics the action of hormones and/or neurotransmitters on their receptors to enhance the response. For example, dopamine agonists stimulate specific brain dopamine receptors to obtain motor response. Back to top 4. Allodynia Pain from mechanical or thermal stimuli which are not normally painful. Allodynia is not referred pain and can occur in other areas that are not stimulated. Back to top 5. Alpha-aminoamide derivative The chemical class to which both safinamide and ralfinamide belong. More specifically, it is an amide derivative of an alpha-amino acid. Back to top 6. Alzheimer's disease A progressive degenerative disease of the brain of unknown etiology, characterized by diffuse atrophy throughout the brain with characteristic pathological changes suggestive of degeneration, and/or necrosis. The disease is characterized by a progressive deterioration of memory, cognitive function and changes in personality. Death usually occurs within 7 to 10 years of the time of diagnosis in most patients. Back to top 7. Benzodiazepines A class of drugs with hypnotic, anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, amnestic and muscle-relaxant properties, which are used for short-term relief of severe, disabling anxiety, ­insomnia, and muscle relaxation for surgical procedures. Back to top 8. Cannabinoid A group of chemicals which activate the body-s cannabinoid receptors. Currently, there are three general types of cannabinoids: (i) herbal cannabinoids occur uniquely in the cannabis plant, (ii) endogenous cannabinoids are produced in the bodies of humans and other animals, and (iii) synthetic cannabinoids are similar compounds produced in a laboratory. Back to top 9. Central Nervous System (CNS) The nerves and cells of the brain and spinal cord. Back to top 10. Chemical scaffold Chemical structure subunit shared by the molecules of a given chemical class. Back to top 11. Clinical Global Impression Scale A scale which provides an overall assessment of the global severity of illness, and change in the clinical condition of the patients compared with pretreatment status. Back to top 12. Daily motor fluctuations (the on/off effect) An unpredictable succession of off periods when ­patients experience full disability and on periods when the drug being administered is successfully alle­viating the patient-s symptoms. Back to top 13. Dopamine A neurotransmitter known to have multiple functions depending on where it acts. Dopamine-containing neurons in a specific area of the basal ganglia are destroyed in Parkinson-s disease victims. Back to top 14. Dopamine reuptake The active transport of dopamine from the synaptic cleft into the presynaptic neuron after it has performed its function of transmitting a neural impulse. Back to top 15. Dopaminergic system The system of nerve cells that uses dopamine as its neurotransmitter. Back to top 16. Double-blind study A clinical trial design in which neither the participating individuals (healthy volunteers or patients) nor the study staff know which participants are receiving the experimental drug and which are receiving placebo or another active treatment. Double-blind trials are thought to produce objective results, since the expectations of the doctor and the participant about the experimental drug do not affect the outcome. Back to top 17. Dyskinesias Abnormal, involuntary body movements that can appear as jerking, fidgeting, twisting, and turning movements.In the context of Parkinson-s disease, dyskinesias are often the result of chronic levodopa therapy. These motor fluctuations occur in more than half of PD patients with levodopa therapy. Dyskinesias most commonly occur at the time of peak levodopa plasma concentrations and are thus referred to as peak-dose dyskinesias. As patients advance, they may evidence diphasic dyskinesias, which occur when the drug concentration rises or falls. Back to top 18. Endogenous Produced or synthesized within the organism. Back to top 19. EPO European Patent Office. Back to top 20. Executive function Executive function is a collection of varying abilities that involve regulatory control over thought and behaviour in the service of goal-directed or intentional action, problem-solving, and flexible shifting of actions to meet task demands. Clinical data about executive function can be obtained by observing an individual-s ability to problem-solving in the natural environment and assessing how flexible a person is when faced with a changing routine. The major executive functions include response inhibition (which permits impulse control, resistance to ­distraction, and delay of gratification); non-verbal working memory (which permits the holding of events in the mind and allows self-awareness across time); verbal working memory (which comprises the internalization of speech and permits self-description, questioning and reading comprehension); and self-regulation of emotion and motivation (which permits motivation, ­persistence toward a goal, and emotional self-control). Back to top 21. GABA Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid, a neurotransmitter which acts at inhibitory synapses in the brain and spinal cord. Back to top 22. Gastrointestinal Relating to, or affecting both stomach and intestine or their functions. Back to top 23. Glutamate A salt or ester of levorotatory glutamic acid. Glutamic acid is an amino acid, one of the 20 building blocks of proteins. It is involved in ammonia metabolism and serves as an excitatory neurotransmitter. Back to top 24. Half-life The time required for half the amount of a drug introduced in an organism to be metabolized or excreted; most commonly refers to drug plasma levels. Back to top 25. Inflammatory pain Triggered by nerve endings that become irritated when surrounded by inflamed tissue. Back to top 26. In vitro A biological or chemical process occurring outside a living organism, i.e. conducted on cultured cells. Back to top 27. In vivo A biological or chemical process occuring inside a living organism. Back to top 28. Ion channels Pore-forming proteins that help to establish and control the voltage gradient that exists across the plasma membrane of all living cells by allowing the flow of ions down their electrochemical gradient. They are present in the membranes that surround all biological cells. Back to top 29. Levodopa A drug which is used to treat Parkinson-s disease which helps restore levels of dopamine, a chemical messenger in the brain responsible for smooth, coordinated movement and other motor and cognitive functions. Back to top 30. Mania Mania is a severe medical condition characterized by extremely elevated mood, energy, and unusual thought patterns. Back to top 31. MAO-B (monoamine oxidase B) An enzyme that is responsible for the metabolism of dopamine and phenylethylamine in the brain. Thus, inhibiting MAO-B is a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of PD. Back to top 32. MAO-B inhibitor A drug which inhibits the MAO-B enzyme activity. Back to top 33. Mild Cognitive Impairment Mild Cognitive Impairment is a general term most commonly used to describe a subtle but measurable memory disorder. According to this definition, a person with Mild Cognitive Impairment has memory problems greater than normally expected with aging, but does not show other symptoms of dementia, such as impaired judgment or reasoning. Back to top 34. Mixed peripheral neuropathic pain Peripheral neuropathic pain of different aetiologies. Back to top 35. N-type calcium channels A calcium channel subtype, belonging to the high-voltage-activated (HVA) calcium channels, that is particularly involved in the process of synaptic neurotransmitter release. Back to top 36. Nerve Compression Harmful pressure of a nerve especially in nerves that pass over rigid prominences, i.e. a rupture disc in the lower spine causing sciatica. Back to top 37. Nerve Entrapment When a nerve gets stuck to the soft tissue that surrounds it, i.e. muscles, fascia and ligaments. Back to top 38. Neurodegenerative Relating to or characterized by the degeneration of nervous tissue. Back to top 39. Neuro-inflammation Chronic sustained injury of the central nervous system, involving the response of microglial cells that contribute to further damage, worsening the disease progression. Back to top 40. Neurons Cells that constitute nervous tissue, that have the property of transmitting and receiving nervous impulses. Back to top 41. Neuropathic Low Back Pain (NLBP) Form of chronic pain initiated or caused by the presence of a primary lesion, damage or disruption to some components of sensory neurons involving the area from the lower rib cage to the gluteal folds, leading to aberrant transmission of pain signals. Back to top 42. Neuropathic pain The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) has defined neuropathic pain as pain initiated or caused by a primary lesion or dysfunction of the nervous system. These lesions may be in the peripheral or central nervous system, and frequently both systems are involved with chronic neuropathic pain states. Examples include phantom limb and spinal cord injury pain, painful diabetic neuropathy, post-herpetic neuralgia, sciatica, trigeminal neuralgia, and drug-induced (e.g., vinca alkaloids) neuropathy. Back to top 43. Neurotransmitter A chemical substance in the brain that either excites or inhibits neural function. Back to top 44. New Chemical Entity (NCE) A compound of a completely new chemical form, which has not been previously approved, and therefore can be patented. Back to top 45. Nociceptors Sensory receptors responsible for nociception, the perception of pain in response to potentially damaging stimulus. Back to top 46. NSAIDs Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Back to top 47. Off-label The use of a drug for a medical condition other than for which it was officially approved and marketed. Back to top 48. Onset of action The length of time it takes for a medicine to start to work. Back to top 49. On time During on times, patients report they feel relatively fluid, clear, and in control of their movements. Often, symptoms of PD may be invisible to all but professionals. Back to top 50. Open label A study in which all parties (patient, physician and study coordinator) are informed of the drug and dose being administered. Back to top 51. Opioids A synthetic drug (such as methadone) possessing narcotic properties similar to opiates but not derived from opium. Back to top 52. Parkinson-s disease (PD) PD is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that affects the control of muscles, and so may affect movement, speech and posture. Parkinson-s disease belongs to a group of conditions called movement disorders. It is often characterized by muscle rigidity, tremor, a slowing of physical movement (bradykinesia), and in extreme cases, a loss of physical movement (akinesia). The primary symptoms are the result of excessive muscle contraction, normally caused by the insufficient formation and action of dopamine, which is produced in the dopaminergic neurons of the brain. Secondary symptoms may include high-level cognitive function and subtle language problems. PD is both chronic, meaning it persists over a long period of time, and progressive. Back to top 53. Pivotal study Usually a phase III study which presents the data that the governmental agencies responsible for approving the marketing of pharmaceutical products (e.g., the US FDA and EMEA) use to decide whether or not to approve a drug. A pivotal study will generally be well-controlled, randomized, of adequate size, and whenever possible, double-blind. Back to top 54. Placebo An inactive substance designed to resemble the drug being tested. It is used as a control to rule out any psychological effects testing may present. Back to top 55. Product Candidate (or clinical compound) A molecule that is selected at the end of preclinical studies to be the subject of the clinical phase of development. Back to top 56. Randomized/randomization Study participants are usually assigned to groups in such a way that each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to each treatment (or control) group. Since randomization ensures that no specific criteria are used to assign any patients to a particular group, all the groups should be comparable. Back to top 57. Receptor A protein complex within a cell or on the membrane surface characterized by selective binding of a specific substance and a specific physiologic effect that accompanies the binding. Back to top 58. Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) RLS, a common, but often misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed, neurological sleep movement disorder which is characterised by a distressing urge to move the legs and sometimes also other body parts, usually accompanied by a marked sense of discomfort or pain in the leg or other afflicted body parts. RLS is typically triggered by rest or inactivity and its symptoms are temporarily relieved or suppressed by movement. Back to top 59. Reuptake Reuptake is the process by which a neurotransmitter, after it has performed its function of transmitting a neural impulse, is transported back into the cell for reuse. Back to top 60. Substance P Substance P is a neuropeptide: a short-chain polypeptide that functions as a neurotransmitter and as a neuromodulator. It is a molecule that acts as a messenger for the sensation of pain. Back to top 61. Substantia nigra An area of the brain where there are cell bodies of dopaminergic neurons projecting to the striatum, a ­circuit involved in motor control. The death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra is one of the causes of PD. Back to top 62. Titration-up Administration of small incremental doses of a drug until a desired clinical effect is reached. Back to top 63. Tricyclic Molecular structures which contain three rings of atoms. The term tricyclic antidepressant is related to imipramine, desimipramine, amitriptyline, etc. Back to top 64. Tetrodotoxin A potent neurotoxin, extracted from puffer fish, that binds and blocks the great majority of sodium ion channels in cellular membranes. Back to top 65. Tetrodotoxin-resistant A sodium ion channel which is resistant to the blocking activity of TTX. Back to top 66. Tetrodoxotin-sensitive A sodium ion channel which is sensitive to the blocking activity of TTX. Back to top 67. Tyramine A monoamine compound derived from the amino acid tyrosine, a member of the phenethylamine family. Back to top 68. UPDRS The Unified Parkinson-s disease Rating Scale is the standard tool for tracking Parkinson-s disease progress and response to therapy, subdivided into three scales including cognitive and mood aspects (Part I), Activities of Daily Living (Part II) and motor aspects symptoms (Part III), as well as dyskinesia aspects (Part IV). A lower score indicates a better condition than a higher score. Back to top About Us Overview Strategy Our people History Research & Drug Development Therapeutic Focus Pipeline Partners Publications Media News Events Reports, presentations & webcasts Email alert Investors Stock information Financial Calendar Financial Report Shareholder FAQs Disclaimer © Newron 2013. All Rights Reserved