SHARES in gene therapy company Oxford BioMedica shot up after it announced an update on trials of its treatment for Parkinsons Disease, ProSavin.

Six-month assessments of the volunteer patients showed further improvement in motor function, said the company, based at Oxford Science Park.

The Principal Investigator, Prof Stéphane Palfi of the Henri Mondor Hospital in Paris, said the data suggested that ProSavin "may provide sustained and meaningful benefit to patients and could reduce or eliminate the debilitating complications associated with oral dopamine replacement therapy".

He said: "In the initial indication of moderate to late-stage Parkinson’s disease, ProSavin potentially offers significant advantages to the current alternatives of deep brain stimulation or mechanical delivery of continuous dopamine.”

Oxford BioMedica’s chief executive, John Dawson, said the results provided further evidence that ProSavin is effective at the current dose levels.

"With its excellent safety profile, we have the opportunity to escalate to a higher dose, which could be even more effective.

"This would enhance the product’s value and could accelerate its development," he said.

He added: "Furthermore, the publication of our ground-breaking preclinical results in a leading journal raises the profile of ProSavin within the medical community and pharmaceutical industry as we prepare for larger studies and negotiate with prospective partners.”