Long-lasting improvement following (-)-OSU6162 in a patient with Huntington’s disease

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a hereditary, incurable neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a progressive loss of frontostriatal integrity.1 Clinically, progressive movement disorder, dementia, and liability for behavioral disturbances and psychosis characterize the disorder. It is well known that dopaminergic drugs modify some clinical features of HD. In this respect, different agonists and antagonists of dopaminergic function may improve or worsen chorea. Whereas levodopa may offer relief from hypokinesia, concomitant worsening of chorea and mental deterioration are commonly seen.2 On the other hand, neuroleptics may decrease chorea but with an accompanying global functional worsening and increased hypokinesia.3 S-(-)-3-(3-methylsulphonyl-phenyl)-N-n-propylpiperidine [(-)-OSU6162] belongs to a novel class of functional modulators of dopaminergic systems displaying stabilizing effects on psychomotor function.4-6 This means that the compound is able to state-dependently modify dopaminergic influence on corticostriatal functions. Such effects, among others, have been demonstrated by the ability of (-)-OSU6162 to decrease levodopa-induced dyskinesias in MPTP primates without appreciably affecting the antiparkinsonian …