New local drug to boost Parkinson, Alzheimer, depression treatment

By Selami Kucukoglu
ERZURUM, Turkey (AA) - After years of hard work in the laboratory and intense studies, academicians in an eastern university of Turkey finally came up with a drug that counters the negative effects of diseases such as Parkinson, Alzheimer's, and depression on the human body.

"Animal experiments have proved that the drug reduces [complication] in health issues such as Parkinson, Alzheimer's, and depression to ideal levels," said Omer Comakli, rector of Ataturk University of Erzurum province, speaking at a news conference.

Rector Comakli said the international patents were obtained from Japan and the United States. The drug had a protective effect on brain cells possessing high glutamate neurotransmitters.

He said the drug would be ready to serve humanity once the clinical stages were fully completed, adding they hoped it would be on the global market as soon as possible.

He noted that this drug -- whose name is determined but yet to be announced -- was Turkey's first "indigenous" medicine and the university staff and academicians were proud to be part of this project from which all people could benefit.

* Writing by Ali Murat Alhas