According to a story from Parkinson’s News Today, ropinirole (marketed as Requip) skin patches proved capable of improving motor function in patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease when compared to placebo. In this phase 3 trial, the two groups were also being treated with levodopa, the standard therapy for Parkinson’s. The results indicated that the skin patch could be just as effective as the oral version of Requip, giving patients an alternative method of administration.
About Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a type of long term, progressive, degenerative illness that affects the central nervous system. Symptoms tend to develop over a period of years and primarily affect the movement ability and mental state of the patient. The cause of Parkinson’s disease remains a mystery, although there are a number of risk factors that have been identified. These factors include head injuries, pesticide exposure, and certain genetic variants and mutations. About 15 percent of patients have a close relative with the disease, suggesting some genetic connection. Symptoms include slowed movements, poor coordination, trouble walking, shaking, stiffness, abnormal posture, depression, anxiety, inhibited thinking, hallucinations, and dementia. Treatment may involve a number of medications, rehabilitation, and surgical operations. Survival rate varies, but most patients survive around a decade after getting diagnosed. To learn more about Parkinson’s disease, click here.
About Requip
Requip’s extended release oral formulation has already been approved as a supplemental treatment to levodopa, which is subject to reduced effectiveness over time to the point that there may be significant periods between doses when they patient experiences no benefit. Requip can help levodopa last longer so that the impacts of these off periods are not as severe.
The skin patch formula of Requip is being developed by Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical in Japan and has the potential to allow greater adherence to treatment. Some Parkinson’s disease patients have trouble swallowing, making oral formulations less than ideal. The skin patch formula circumvents this problem.
The study involved 587 patients living with advanced disease. Patients were given either placebo, the Requip patch, or the Requip oral formula. Patients using the patch saw a reduction in motor symptoms by an average of 9.8 points compared to 4.3 points in the placebo group. Meanwhile, the scores between the patch and the oral formula differed by only 0.3 points, suggesting that there was no significant difference in their impact.
