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RE: <<FDA Approves Stalevo (TM) for Treatment of Parkinson's Disease New Drug Reduces Signs and Symptoms of Disease. EAST HANOVER, N.J., Jun 13, 2003 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Stalevo (carbidopa, levodopa and entacapone) tablets, the first new drug for Parkinson's disease in over three years, for patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) who experience signs and symptoms of end- of-dose "wearing off." Stalevo contains levodopa, the most widely used agent for Parkinson's disease, plus carbidopa and entacapone. While carbidopa reduces the side effects of levodopa, entacapone extends its benefits, permitting Parkinson's disease patients to have an improved ability to perform everyday tasks and a reduction in symptoms associated with the disease... >> This press release is very misleading (note: I am NOT blaming the messenger (Murray); I do have an issue with Novartis though for advertising this as "the first new drug for Parkinson's disease in over three years." It is merely a combination of two commonly prescribed drugs - Entacapone, which is the generic name for Comtan - a medication people have been taking for a few years now, and Sinemet. Aside from the convenience of swallowing one pill instead of two at a time, what are the benefits of Stalevo? It seems to me that taking this combined version of tthe two would only make it more difficult to tailor our dosages to our individual needs . Or am I missing something here? Linda ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn