Parkinson's disease: no NOP, new hope

In conclusion, we feel that data obtained through a clinically-driven protocol in two different PD models (neurotoxic and etiologic) and animal species (mouse and rat), convey a solid proof-of-concept that NOP receptor antagonists protect/rescue DA neurons from PD-like neurodegeneration. Although more evidence needs to be collected to claim that endogenous N/OFQ contributes to DA cell loss also in human PD, NOP receptor antagonists hold promise as symptomatic and disease-modifying agents in PD therapy