A Research Study for People Living With Parkinson's Disease
Testing an investigational drug, LY3962681, made to lower alpha-synuclein — a protein linked to Parkinson's symptoms.
- For adults 30–80 with an early-to-moderate Parkinson's diagnosis
- Can join even if you take Parkinson's medication, if your dose has been steady
- Research sites now open across the US
Takes under 2 minutes. Free, private, no obligation.
Living with Parkinson's disease often means learning to work around symptoms that medication cannot fully smooth out — more "off" time, new side effects, or the quiet sense that today's plan may not carry you as far as it used to.
This research study is an early-stage (Phase 1) study run at multiple medical research centers around the world, including the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Germany, and Japan.
It is exploring an investigational drug called LY3962681, given as a shot into the fluid around the spine. The drug is designed to lower alpha-synuclein, a protein that builds up in the brain in Parkinson's disease and is believed to drive many of its symptoms.
Because this is an early study, its main goal is to check safety and see how the drug moves through the body. It is not yet designed to prove the drug works as a treatment.
Read on to learn what taking part involves, and check your eligibility below.
What Is LY3962681, and Why Alpha-Synuclein?
Doctors believe a protein called alpha-synuclein builds up in the brains of people with Parkinson's disease. This buildup is thought to harm nerve cells and cause Parkinson's symptoms.
LY3962681 is an investigational drug, which means it is still being studied and is not yet approved for use. It is made of small genetic material that tells the body to make less alpha-synuclein.
- The idea behind the study is that lowering this protein early may reduce harm linked to Parkinson's disease.
- This idea has not yet been proven in people. Finding out whether it works safely is exactly what this study is designed to do.
- The drug is given by a spinal shot, called an intrathecal injection, which is similar to a lumbar puncture or "spinal tap."
A member of the study team will fully explain this procedure, including what to expect and how long recovery usually takes, before you decide whether to take part.
Key Facts About This Study
A quick look at what this study offers and what taking part involves.
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What LY3962681 Does
An investigational drug made to lower alpha-synuclein, a protein linked to Parkinson's disease. It is given by a spinal shot.
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No One Gets an Inactive Shot Alone
Most participants get the investigational drug. A smaller group gets a placebo, an inactive shot used for comparison.
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Randomized and Blinded Study
You will be picked at random for a group. Neither you nor the study team at your site will know which one you are in during treatment.
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Phase 1 Trial
This is an early-stage study. Its main focus is safety, tolerability, and how the drug moves through the body.
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Multiple Sites Worldwide
Research sites are open in the US, UK, EU, Germany, and Japan.
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Follow-Up Period Up to About a Year
After dosing, the study team checks in with you over time to watch for safety concerns.
Why Consider Taking Part?
Joining a research study is a personal choice. Here is what taking part can offer, and what it asks of you.
Close Care From a Specialist Team
You will be seen often by a research team that knows Parkinson's disease and movement disorders well, with extra check-ins beyond regular care.
Early Access to New Research
People with Parkinson's disease in this study may get early access to a new drug still being studied, before it is available to the public. There is no guarantee it will help you.
Helping Future Treatments
Every participant's results help researchers learn whether lowering alpha-synuclein could one day help people with Parkinson's disease.
What Happens If I Take Part?
This study follows a clear path for people with Parkinson's disease: screening, dosing, and follow-up.
Screening
A series of health checks, like blood tests, a brain scan, and a memory check, confirm whether the study fits you. This period lasts several weeks.
Random Assignment
You will be picked at random to get either the study drug or a placebo. Neither you nor your care team will know which one, during treatment.
Dosing Visits
You will get two spinal shots, spaced several months apart, with monitoring after each.
Follow-Up
Regular check-ins continue for up to about a year to watch for safety and see how the drug affected you. Some people may need a longer follow-up.
Checking your eligibility online takes just a few minutes.
How the Study Groups Work
This study is randomized. That means a computer picks your group by chance. Neither you nor the study team choose it.
It is also double-blind at your site. During treatment, neither you nor the doctors and nurses caring for you will know if you got the real drug or the placebo. A separate safety team outside your site does track this information so they can watch for problems.
Everyone in this study follows the same two-dose plan. No participant switches from placebo to the real drug, or the other way around, partway through. The group you start in is the group you stay in for the whole treatment period.
Am I Eligible?
Below is a short summary of the main rules. The study team will do a full health check to confirm if you can join. This list is a starting point, not a final answer.
You May Be Eligible If:
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You are between 30 and 80 years old. This study does not include people younger than 30 or older than 80.
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You have a confirmed Parkinson's disease diagnosis.
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Your movement symptoms are at an early to moderate stage. This means you can still move around mostly on your own, with or without some help.
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If you take Parkinson's medication, your dose has been steady for at least 8 weeks, and your doctor expects it can stay steady for about 6 more months.
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Your memory and thinking test score is in the normal range, based on a short standard test given at screening.
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Your body weight is between about 88 and 242 pounds (40 to 110 kg).
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You are willing to use effective birth control during the study, if this applies to you.
You May Not Be Eligible If:
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You are younger than 30 or older than 80.
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You have another serious brain or nerve condition besides Parkinson's disease that could affect the study results.
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You have a serious or unstable heart, liver, kidney, lung, or immune system condition that a doctor feels would make the study unsafe for you.
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You have a spine problem, bleeding disorder, or other condition that would make a spinal shot unsafe for you.
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You currently have an active infection, or had a serious infection in the last 2 months.
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You have had serious allergic reactions in the past, or are allergic to any part of the study drug.
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You have an unusual heart rhythm finding on a heart tracing (ECG), or a personal or family history of certain heart rhythm problems.
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You have had a spinal shot from another research study before, or have had gene or cell therapy in the past.
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You have had recent thoughts of self-harm, or the study team feels you may be at risk based on a standard safety questionnaire.
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You are pregnant, breastfeeding, or able to become pregnant and not willing to use effective birth control.
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You have significant kidney impairment.
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You have a history of asthma, eczema, or other significant allergic conditions.
This is a short summary, not the complete list. The study team will look closely at your full medical history during screening to make sure the study is safe and right for you.
Where Is This Study Taking Place?
Research sites are open in the countries below. Site availability may vary by location.
- United States
- United Kingdom
- European Union
- Germany
- Japan
How This Study Is Run and Watched Over
Knowing who runs a study and how it is checked can help you decide if it feels right for you.
Multicenter Research Network
This study runs at several research sites across the US, UK, EU, Germany, and Japan, all following the same plan so results can be compared fairly across locations.
Independent Ethics Review
This study was checked by an independent ethics committee, a group not connected to the researchers, before anyone could join, to help protect participants' safety and rights.
Ongoing Safety Checks
A safety team made up of qualified people not directly running the study watches participant safety results on an ongoing basis. They can pause or change the study if needed.
Registered With Regulators
This study is registered with health regulators and follows recognized international rules for research involving people, known as Good Clinical Practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this study looking at?
This study is testing an investigational drug called LY3962681. It is made to lower a protein called alpha-synuclein, which builds up in the brain in Parkinson's disease. Researchers want to find out if lowering this protein is safe and what it does in the body.
Will I get a placebo instead of the real drug?
Most people in this study get the investigational drug. A smaller group gets a placebo, which looks the same but has no active drug in it. You will be picked at random for one of the groups, and neither you nor the study team at your site will know which group you are in during treatment.
Can I join if I already take Parkinson's medication?
Yes, in most cases. Your current Parkinson's medication dose must have been steady for at least 8 weeks before joining, and your doctor must expect it can stay steady for about 6 more months. The study team will go over your medications with you.
What does the injection involve?
The drug is given through a shot into the fluid around your spinal cord, called an intrathecal injection. This is similar to a lumbar puncture or "spinal tap." The shot itself takes about 5 to 7 minutes. The study team will explain the steps, what it may feel like, and how long recovery takes before you decide.
Is this safe? What are the risks?
Every research study has some risk. A member of the study team will explain all known risks before you decide to join. Risks from the spinal shot can include headache, back pain, or infection. A safety team reviews study results on an ongoing basis and can pause or stop dosing if safety concerns come up.
How long does the study last?
Total time varies. There is a screening period of several weeks to check eligibility, then dosing, then a follow-up period that can last up to about a year. Some participants may need a longer follow-up depending on their results. The study team will explain the full time commitment before you decide.
Who can take part in this study?
This study enrolls adults ages 30 to 80 who have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at an early to moderate stage. There are more health-based rules the study team will check with you one-on-one.
Do I have to decide right away?
No. Taking part is completely up to you. If you are interested, you will get written information about the study and have time to ask questions before signing anything. Saying no will not affect your regular medical care in any way.
Will everyone in the study get the same treatment?
No. Some participants get the investigational drug and some get a placebo, and you will not know which one you got during treatment. Everyone who joins follows the same two-dose plan. No one switches from placebo to the real drug partway through, or the other way around. Your group stays the same for the whole treatment period.
Is a spinal injection painful?
The injection, called an intrathecal injection, is similar to a lumbar puncture or spinal tap. It takes about 5 to 7 minutes. Some people feel brief discomfort at the injection site or a headache afterward. The study team monitors you afterward and will explain what to expect and how to manage any discomfort before you decide to take part.
Curious Whether You Qualify?
Checking your eligibility is free, private, and does not commit you to anything. A member of the study team will walk you through what it means, answer your questions, and give you time to decide.
See If You Qualify