New Treatment Available for Parkinson's Disease

Following is a news release based on an article published in the July issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN). The AAN is an association of more than 14,500 neurologists and neuroscience professionals dedicated to improving patient care through education and research. For a copy of the full article or for more information, contact Sarah Parsons or Rona Stewart at 612-623-8115 or by e-mail [email protected].

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 1997

New Treatment Available for Parkinsonís Disease

MINNEAPOLIS, MN ñ The drug pramipexole improves symptoms for advanced Parkinsonís disease patients, according to a study published in the July issue of the American Academy of Neurologyís scientific journal, Neurology. Patients also need 27 percent less of the main medication for Parkinsonís, levodopa, when the drug is added to their treatment, the study showed. ìThis is a positive development that will be very helpful for Parkinsonís patients,î said neurologist Abraham Lieberman, MD, of Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, AZ, who authored the study. ìThis gives neurologists another tool to use in the treatment of Parkinsonís.î Parkinsonís disease causes the brain to lose dopamine, which results in stiffness and rigidity of the muscles, slowness in movement and tremor of the arms and legs. Levodopa, the main treatment for the disease, is metabolized into dopamine in the brain. The brainís ability to metabolize and store levodopa diminishes after time and it becomes more dependent on the external supply of levodopa. Eventually most patients experience fluctuations: During the day of symptom-free or ìonî periods when the medication is working, followed by ìoffî times when the drug is not working. Pramipexole is a dopamine agonist which mimics the actions of dopamine in the brain. ìPramipexole substitutes for some of the dopamine that is missing and smoothes out the unevenness of levodopa,î said Lieberman, who is also medical director of the National Parkinson Foundation in Miami, FL.

The 32-week, double-blind study involved 360 patients at 26 institutions in the United States and Canada. The patients were in the advanced stages of Parkinsonís and not responding satisfactorily to levodopa treatment. Half the patients received pramipexole, and half received a placebo. For the patients receiving pramipexole, the positive effects of levodopa lasted longer, movement improved and other symptoms such as tremor, rigidity and walking improved during both ìonî and ìoffî periods. In addition, patients needed 27 percent less levodopa while taking pramipexole. Researchers also noted an improvement in the mood of patients on pramipexole, with less anxiety and apathy reported by patients. ìThirty to 40 percent of Parkinsonís patients become depressed, so this could be an important benefit,î Lieberman said. ìBut this observation will have to be validated by further studies.î Pramipexole has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in Parkinsonís disease. Parkinsonís disease affects more than one million Americans.