Experimental Treatment

[Tamar-Ben-Ur]

  My mother who lives in israel was diagnosed with PD.  My sister told me
  that she is going to receive an experimental treatment.  She said the
  name in hebrew and could not spell it in English.  Sounded like
  Brassofensin.  Can you please help me identify the procedure and inform
  me where can get more info about it?
  Thanks,
  Tamar

  
I am not aware of anything by that name which is an experimental treatment for parkinson's disease. As you might know, there have been several new drugs which have become available for treatment of parkinsonism in the US. These include Mirapex (pramipexole) and Requip (ropinerole), both of which are synthetic dopamine look-alike compounds. Also, we have had the introduction of Tasmar (tolcapone), which is an inhibitor of an enzyme that breaks down what's in Sinemet and thus makes the effect last longer.
There is quite an effort these days to find neuroprotective agents which may slow down or possibly halt the progression of Parkinson's disease. But what's under clinical trial in Israel vs what's here, I don't know.
There is some interest in experimental graft transplantation - that's been going on for several years but hasn't come close to approval in the US. I don't know what the status is in Israel.
Maybe your mother can help - get written information about the experimental treatment, and help us understand whether it is a surgical procedure vs medication trial, and what the goals are (symptom therapy vs slowing down the disease).
I hope this helps. CCF MD mdf.