New study supports leuprorelin in Kennedy disease

Kennedy’s disease is a relatively slow-growing motor neuron disease. Among the various clinical signs, swallowing disorders strongly affect the quality of life of patients. Leuprorelin, a gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue already used in the treatment of prostate cancer, reduces the production of testicular androgens. Administered to Kennedy disease mouse models, leuprorelin improves their motor function. 

 

The effects of a subcutaneous injection of leuprorelin every three months for one year were evaluated by videofluoroscopy in 40 people with Kennedy disease, aged 30 to 75 years. At the end of a one-year follow-up, the dysphagia of the participants was significantly improved. Among the different textures and volumes of foods tested by participants, swallowing yogurt (which is thicker than liquid) appears to be a good marker of treatment effects for future clinical trials. The results of this study, conducted without a placebo group, will need to be confirmed on a larger scale and in the longer term in this slowly evolving disease. 

 

Effect of leuprorelin in bulbar function of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy patients: observational study for 1 year. MG Kang, DW Gwak, HJ Cho et al. J Neurol., 2021 (Mars).