Portuguese biopharma Bial is launching a year-long disease awareness campaign that’s intended to boost understanding of Parkinson’s disease and its often subtle, early-stage symptoms.
Coinciding with World Parkinson’s Day 2026, Bial is teaming up with patient charity Parkinson’s Europe to underscore the need for early awareness of symptoms, noting that Parkinson’s is not necessarily a disease of old age.
“From our interactions with the Parkinson’s community, we have observed that two perceptions remain deeply rooted in Parkinson’s disease: that it is exclusively associated with older age, and a low awareness of one’s own symptoms,” João Norte, Vice President, Global Marketing, Access & Patient Value at Bial, said in an April 10 release.
“These factors can contribute to delaying the diagnosis, particularly among younger people, where signs are more subtle and unexpected, and may compromise disease treatment,” Norte added.
While most people with Parkinson's start seeing symptoms when they are 50 or older, some first experience symptoms when they're under 40. These, however, can be dismissed for many months or years.
Traditional symptoms include tremors or muscle stiffness, but patients can at an earlier stage see a wide range of other physical and psychological symptoms. These include balance issues, depression and anxiety, loss of a sense of smell, and others.
The “Dialogues with Parkinson’s” campaign features digital content and educational resources such as guides and checklists that can be used by patients and healthcare workers.
These common marketing and awareness tools are set up to boost communication between those visiting their doctor with concerns about Parkinson’s and potentially boost earlier diagnoses and treatment.
Bial said it is also specifically zeroing in on so-called “off episodes,” a common issue in Parkinson’s when the disease becomes much worse, or when drug treatment doesn’t work, much like relapses with conditions such as multiple sclerosis.
The biopharma is currently working on BIA 28-6156, a midstage experimental drug intended for Parkinson’s patients who have a pathogenic variation in the glucocerebrosidase 1 (GBA1) gene.