Neupro has been available in the European market since March 2006 for the treatment of early stage idiopathic Parkinson's disease as a monotherapy. The drug has already been launched in Germany, the UK, Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, Greece and Spain. Neupro has now been approved for advanced stages of Parkinson's in combination with levodopa.
Neupro, with the active ingredient rotigotine, is a non-ergoline dopamine receptor-agonist formulated as a transdermal delivery system, a patch. Rotigotine exhibits a promising receptor profile, rapid metabolism and low potential of pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions.
“Rotigotine, a new chemical entity, is combined with an innovative formulation technology, the first Parkinson's patch, to offer patients good symptom control over twenty-four hours,” said Iris Loew-Friedrich, CSO of Schwarz Pharma.