GlaxoSmithKline’s Requip XL is said to be the first and only oral once-daily non-ergot dopamine agonist indicated for Parkinson’s disease. The product should be available in pharmacies in mid-July 2008.
Requip XL is an extended-release, once-daily tablet formulation that uses SkyePharma’s patented Geomatrix technology. This innovative tri-layer formulation allows for continuous delivery of ropinirole over 24 hours to provide smooth blood levels.
According to the company, Requip XL offers physicians and patients a simple titration regimen; it also offers a convenient, once-daily dosing schedule compared to other oral dopamine agonists, which are dosed multiple times a day.