Anyone know if and when Ropinerole will be available in the States?
        Ron (49/2)=20
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Study Shows Ropinirole Effective Treatment For Early Parkinson`s Disease =
Ropinirole Controls Motor Symptoms and Delays Need for Levodopa Therapy=20

September 3, 1997

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Sept. 2  -- Ropinirole is an effective treatment for =
controlling motor symptoms of patients with early Parkinson's disease, =
according to a study published in this month's issue of "Neurology." A =
six-month study showed that patients treated with ropinirole =
demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in motor function.=20

In his conclusion in the article, lead investigator an author, Charles =
H. Adler, M.D., Ph.D., states that ropinirole appears to be an effective =
therapeutic option for the treatment of Parkinson's disease and =
demonstrates a favorable safety and tolerability profile. As a result, =
it seems reasonable to consider the use of ropinirole as a levodopa =
sparing strategy for managing Parkinson's disease. Dr. Adler is an =
associate professor of neurology, Mayo Medical School and consultant in =
neurology, department of neurology, Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, AZ.=20

Ropinirole Offers Effective Symptomatic Control For Early Parkinson's=20

Disease=20

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 241 patients =
with mild-to-moderate (early) Parkinson's disease received either =
ropinirole or placebo. Results were obtained using the Unified =
Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). Physicians measured the =
overall change they saw in their patients' motor function after six =
months. Patients treated with ropinirole demonstrated a 24 percent =
improvement in UPDRS motor score, while placebo- treated patients =
demonstrated a 3 prevent worsening in motor score. In addition, 33 =
percent of patients treated with ropinirole were rated as either "very =
much improved" or "much improved" on the Clinical Global Impressions =
(GCI) improvement item compared to 12 percent of placebo-treated =
patients.=20

According to Dr. Adler, newer dopamine agonists not only provide =
physicians with a new treatment approach, but they also offer several =
treatment advantages. Unlike older dopamine agonists, these new drugs =
have demonstrated clinical efficacy in controlled trials in the early =
stages of the disease. In addition they may offer a better side effect =
profile.=20

Ropinirole was well-tolerated over entire six month period. The most =
common adverse experiences were nausea, dizziness and somnolence, which =
were primarily related to the stimulation of dopamine receptors.=20

Early this year, results from a six month extension to this study were =
presented at the 1997 American Academy of Neurology meeting. The study =
demonstrated that ropinirole effectively controlled motor symptoms of =
early Parkinson's disease over a twelve month period.=20

A Progressive Neurodegenerative Disorder=20

Parkinson's disease, which affects between 500,000 and 1,000,000 =
Americans, is a chronic and progressive neurological disorder that =
causes tremors, rigidity of the muscles and other severe motor =
impairments. Parkinson's disease results from the death of nerve cells =
in a critical area of the brain called the substantia nigra. These nerve =
cells normally produce dopamine, a chemical messenger that plays an =
important role in motor control by transmitting signals between the =
substantia nigra and another critical area of the brain called the =
striatum. Dopamine depletion results in an impaired ability to initiate =
and control movements.=20

A Need For New Agents to Treat Early Parkinson's Disease=20

One strategy for treating Parkinson's disease is to address the dopamine =
deficiency through medications that either replace dopamine or mimic its =
effects. Levodopa, which is a precursor of dopamine, is administered as =
a form of replacement therapy. Although this drug is very effective =
initially, after long-term use many patients develop disabling side =
effects which include dyskinesias (involuntary movements such as =
twitching, nodding or jerking), neuropsychiatric problems (e.g. =
hallucinations) and fluctuations of motor response.=20

Dopamine agonists mimic the effects of dopamine by binding to and =
stimulating dopamine receptors in the brain. A reduced level of dopamine =
at these receptors is believed to cause the motor symptoms of =
Parkinson's disease. Clinical studies have shown the effectiveness of =
ropinirole in improving the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease, =
either as early monotherapy or in the later stages as adjunctive therapy =
with levodopa in patients experiencing motor fluctuations.=20

Ropinirole (Requip(TM), SmithKlein Beecham) is currently under review at =
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of Parkinson's =
disease, both as early monotherapy and as adjunctive treatment with =
levodopa.=20

Mayo is a private group practice of medicine dedicated to providing =
diagnosis and treatment of patient illnesses through a systematic focus =
on individual patient needs. Mayo provides comprehensive hospital and =
outpatient services at each of its major locations - Rochester, Minn.; =
Jacksonville, Fla.; and Scottsdale, Ariz. At each site, clinical =
practice is closely integrated with advanced education and research =
programs. Mayo Clinic Scottsdale offers healthcare in 62 medical and =
surgical specialties and programs. Located on 274 acres at Shea =
Boulevard and 134th Street, the Clinic's 190 physicians and more than =
1,500 support staff have served 365,000 patients since opening in 1987. =
Mayo also provides care at primary care practices located throughout the =
Valley. A Mayo hospital, under construction in northeast Phoenix at 56th =
Street and Mayo Boulevard (near Union Hills Drive), is scheduled to open =
in third quarter 1998.=20

SOURCE Mayo Clinic Scottsdale=20

/CONTACT: Kim Van Nimwegen of Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, 602-301-7156/=20