Big Pharma's influence is stalling the search for a cure. The influence of profit-driven motives has skewed Parkinson's research priorities, leaving patients without the answers and innovations they desperately need. Decisions about how resources are allocated are controlled by pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions, prioritizing treatments that maximize financial returns rather than patient outcomes.
The Status Quo is a System Designed to Maintain Profits
Despite decades of research, we still don’t know what causes Parkinson’s, what drives its progression, or how to stop it. The most reliable treatment — medication developed 50 years ago — offers temporary symptom relief but ultimately fails as patients require higher doses over time, leading to debilitating side effects.
Newer drugs, such as dopamine agonists, aim to delay these challenges but often bring severe complications like hallucinations and compulsive behaviors. These side effects create a cycle of additional medications, each with its own risks, compounding patients’ suffering while enriching pharmaceutical companies. Promising natural remedies and lifestyle changes — like exercise and mindfulness — receive little research funding because they can’t be patented or monetized. The result is a system that prioritizes profits over potentially transformative solutions.
The Cost of Misaligned Incentives
Globally, 11 million people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s, and the number of patients over 65 is expected to double within the next decade. In the U.S. alone, the Parkinson’s drug market was valued at $97.59 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to $171.46 billion by 2031. With such enormous financial stakes, there is little incentive to find a cure that would disrupt this lucrative market.
Steps Towards a Solution: Prioritizing Patient-Centered Research
- Funding Non-Monetizeable Solutions: Supporting research into natural remedies and lifestyle interventions that show promise but are overlooked.
- Reevaluating Research Models: Advocating for the inclusion of the patient voice in research design to ensure studies reflect real-world needs and outcomes.
- Fostering Innovation: Encouraging the exploration of new paradigms that challenge conventional, profit-driven approaches.
We believe that by addressing these systemic flaws, we can drive the progress necessary to find a cure for Parkinson’s and improve the quality of life for millions worldwide. Learn more about our vision for the future and how we’ll get there.
