Schwarz Pharma and UCB are launching Neupro, a once-daily transdermal dopamine agonist approved for the treatment of early-stage idiopathic Parkinson's disease. The drug is now commercially available in retail pharmacies throughout the US.
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In conjunction with the US launch, the companies are also kicking off PD-Aware, a public education campaign which aims to raise the profile of Parkinson’s disease and highlight the latest treatment options, including Neupro.
“Disabling Parkinson’s symptoms can be well controlled with available medications, but may return as the effects of Parkinson’s disease medications wear off,” said C. Warren Olanow, professor and chair of neurology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.
“Neupro is the first transdermal or patch formulation available for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. It provides continuous drug delivery for 24 hours, throughout the day and night. As a new treatment option for early-stage Parkinson’s patients, the Neupro patch helps control symptoms with once-daily dosing,” Olanow added.
The FDA approved Neupro on May 9, 2007 based on results from 15 multinational clinical trials, which involved more than 1,500 patients with Parkinson’s disease. The clinical trials demonstrated that Neupro was efficacious and generally well-tolerated for early-stage Parkinson’s disease, with a low potential for drug-drug interactions. Neupro is currently available in the US in three strengths: 2mg/24 hours; 4mg/24 hours; and 6mg/24 hours.
Neupro will be co-promoted by the companies.