Parkinson's Patients Have Improved Motor and Non-Motor Function After Treatment with Theralase(R) Cool Laser Therapy
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 10, 2025) - Theralase® Technologies Inc. (TSXV: TLT)(OTCQB: TLTFF) ("Theralase®" or the "Company"), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to the research and development of light, radiation, sound and/or drug-activated small molecules and their formulations, intended for the safe and effective destruction of various cancers, bacteria and viruses, is pleased to announce that interim clinical data for patients diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease ("PD") and treated with the Theralase® TLC-2400 Cool Laser Therapy ("CLT") system have improved both their motor and non-motor function.
PD is a neurological condition, which affects the brain's ability to produce dopamine – the chemical which helps control movement. It is a progressive condition; whereby, symptoms appear gradually and slowly manifest, as the brain becomes increasingly damaged over time. There is no cure for PD, but the quality of life can be improved with various medications, surgery and lifestyle choices.1
PD is the second-most common neurodegenerative disorder in the United States, with 90,000 people a year diagnosed and as many as 1 million Americans living with the disease. The cost of treatment is estimated to be $14 billion annually, while the combined direct and indirect cost; including: treatment, social security payments and lost income, is estimated to be nearly $52 billion per year. As the U.S. population ages, the number of people diagnosed with PD is expected to double by 2040. Worldwide there are more than 10 million people diagnosed with PD.2,3
In January 2024, Theralase® donated two TLC-2400 Cool Laser Therapy ("CLT") systems to the University of Windsor to conduct a clinical study to aid in the research and development of a novel treatment for patients suffering from Parkinson's, an "active" device with full power and a "placebo" device with virtually no power.
Theralase®'s CLT system, with super-pulsed laser technology, is one of the few technologies in the world that is able to non-invasively penetrate the human skull, promoting anti-inflammatory responses and stimulating neurons through the production of dopamine to increase neuromotor function.4, 5
In the latest triple-blind, randomized, controlled, crossover clinical study, titled, "Effects of Cool Laser Therapy Treatment on Cognitive, Physical and Cerebral Neurovascular Function in Parkinson's Disease: A Pilot Study", patients were randomized to either an active or placebo Theralase® CLT system and provided 7 treatments, 3 times per week. After a 4 week "wash-out" period to remove any residual effects, the patients were then "crossed-over" to be treated with the device they had not received treatment from previously.
At the end of each treatment cycle, patients were evaluated for both motor and non-motor assessments:
Fine and Gross Neuromuscular Movement (physical movement – motor)
For all figures, "A" represents the Theralase® CLT system A and "B" represents the Theralase® CLT system B; where, one system is active treatment and the other is placebo treatment.
Each participant completed testing prior to ("Pre") and following ("Post") seven laser treatment sessions with each system.
The Montreal Cognitive Assessment ("MoCA") is a widely implemented non-motor screening tool used to assess cognitive dysfunction. MoCA scores range from 0 to 30; scores, with ≥ 26 indicating normal cognition and scores ≤ 25 indicating cognitive impairment.
The average MoCA score increased by 11% from Pre A to Post A. The average MoCA score increased by 4% from Pre B to Post B.
NeuroVascular Coupling ("NVC") is a widely used non-motor assessment tool that evaluates the vascular component of neuronal health by measuring changes in cerebral blood velocity while stimulating specific brain regions corresponding to the imaged vessel. Enhanced blood flow in the brain regions that are stimulated signifies improved neuronal and vascular health.
The average change in cerebral blood velocity during NVC was 14% greater from Pre A to Post A. The average change in cerebral blood velocity during NVC was 1% greater from Pre B to Post B.
The Orthostatic Tolerance Test ("OTT") is a motor assessment that assesses the ability to transition from laying down to standing up and remain standing in the upright position for five consecutive minutes. This figure illustrates the change in cerebral blood velocity from baseline to the first 30 seconds of standing.
The average change in cerebral blood velocity during the OTT was 9% greater from Pre A to Post A. The average change in cerebral blood velocity during the OTT was unchanged from Pre B to Post B.
Grooved Pegboard Test ("GPT") is a commonly used motor assessment tool to assess fine motor control, hand-eye coordination and finger dexterity of participants. A lower time indicates improved motor control.
The average time to complete the GPT using the dominant hand was reduced by 19% from Pre A to Post A. The average time to complete the GPT using the dominant hand was reduced by 6% from Pre B to Post B.
Anecdotal Review:
Participant 1:
Participant 1 appeared to be thinking about his responses to the MoCA questions more intently during the Post A than Pre A session. They also appeared to have reduced hand tremors and improved memory during the Post A compared to the Pre A session. The participant and daughter, who attended each session, noted these improvements as well and inquired about continuing the laser treatments.
Participant 2:
During the Post A session, participant 2 noted that their sense of smell briefly returned and they noticed improvements in their gait (reduced shuffling) compared to the Pre A session.
Participant 3:
Participant 3 and significant other attended the Pre A and Post A sessions. The participant's significant other noticed several changes in the participant from Pre A to Post A; including, improved balance, mood and upper limb fine and gross motor control.
Anthony Bain, Ph.D., principal investigator, University of Windsor is leading the clinical study together with Sean Horton, Ph.D.; Paula van Wyk, Ph.D.; Chad Sutherland, Ph.D.; Brooke Shepley, Ph.D. candidate and Luigi Albano, DC.
Dr. Bain stated, “We are extremely pleased that we have been able to demonstrate subjective and objective indications of neuromotor (motor and non-motor) functional improvement in the treatment of Parkinson’s patients with the Theralase® CLT system. Preliminary results suggest an improvement in motor and non-motor function, with a reduction in symptoms according to both subjective and objective clinical evaluations. This has allowed these patients the opportunity to improve memory and perform tasks that they have struggled with for years. We are especially grateful to the collaboration with Theralase® on the project and for their generous donation of the CLT technology.”
Brooke Shepley, Ph.D. candidate, who specializes in cerebrovascular physiology and vascular biology at the University of Windsor, stated, "I am extremely encouraged by the response of the patients to the Theralase® CLT technology. The majority of patients who received the active arm of the study have responded well in most categories, after only a few treatments. It is evident, although the sample size of patients treated is small, that the Theralase® CLT seems to be quite effective in both motor and non-motor function in this patient population. I look forward to completing this pilot study and advancing to a larger clinical study to increase our sample size."
Luigi Albano, D.C., President of Walkerville Chiropractic stated, "In the patients that I have treated in the clinical study to date, I and the patients themselves have seen significant improvements in their Parkinson's symptoms after only a short number of treatments. I look forward to expanding our clinical research to help more patients, whose mental retention and physical movements are at the mercy of this disease. CLT is non-invasive, highly effective and has no side effects."
Arkady Mandel, M.D., Ph.D., D.Sc., Chief Scientific Officer at Theralase® stated, "Based on this pilot clinical study,Drs. Bain and Albano have clinically demonstrated that Theralase® CLT technology is well indicated in the safe and effective treatment of patients inflicted with neurodegenerative disorders, both motor and non-motor function; specifically, patients diagnosed with PD. The initial results of this clinical study indicate that the CLT treatment protocol is of benefit for patients in various stages of PD and as result will have a significant impact on their quality of life. CLT technology offers painless, non-invasive and effective drug-free solutions for these patients and I look forward to the day when Theralase® CLT technology will be recognized by every major industrialized nation in the world and available for healthcare practitioners to treat neurodegenerative diseases; including, Parkinson's Disease, particularly when so many conventional therapies and drugs have failed to produce sustainable effects or have led to unacceptable side effects."
Roger DuMoulin-White, B.Sc., P.Eng., Pro.Dir., President and Chief Executive Officer of Theralase® stated, "Theralase® was pleased to donate our CLT technology to such a worthy cause as the research and development of a treatment for patients suffering from the symptoms of Parkinson's. Based on the recent success, Theralase® is planning to donate additional equipment to a new clinical study site to increase enrollment into the clinical study. Theralase® is excited by the recent results obtained by Drs. Albano and Bain, demonstrating remarkable improvements in Parkinson's symptoms, both motor and non-motor, with a significant reduction in tremors and dramatic increase in the ability of patients to ambulate and perform tasks that most of us take for granted, after only a few treatments. Our hope is that this clinical research leads to the widespread adoption of Theralase® CLT technology across the world for the benefit of all Parkinson's patients, suffering from this debilitating disease."
Theralase® is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to the research and development of light, radiation, sound and/or drug-activated small molecule compounds, their associated drug formulations and the light systems that activate them, with a primary objective of efficacy and a secondary objective of safety in the destruction of various cancers, bacteria and viruses.
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