I don't remember whether I sent this already. If so, its worth reading
again. Must be the Permax.
Ron Reiner 48 + 9mos ([log in to unmask])
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STUDIES SHOW ROPINIROLE RELIEVES SYMPTOMS AND IS WELL-TOLERATED
IN TREATING EARLY PARKINSON'S DISEASE
Source: PR Newswire
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., March 26 /PRNewswire/ via Individual Inc.
-- Results of three clinical studies demonstrating the
effectiveness of ropinirole, a dopamine D2 receptor agonist, for
the treatment of patients with early Parkinson's disease, were
presented today at the American Academy of Neurology.
-- A six month multicenter, double-blind, placebo-control study
on the efficacy and safety of ropinirole evaluated in patients
with Parkinson's disease who had previously not been treated with
any anti- Parkinson therapy, was reported by David Wheadon, MD,
SmithKline Beecham (NYSE: SBH, SBE). Two hundred forty one
patients participated in the study. The ropinirole treated
patients showed a statistically significant difference in
improved motor function over placebo-treated patients (+24
percent for ropinirole versus -3 percent for placebo), using the
Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor score.
Additionally, a statistically significant difference was noted
between treatment groups for L-dopa rescue -- 29 percent for
placebo compared to 11 percent for ropinirole-treated patients.
Ropinirole was well- tolerated. The majority of adverse events
were related to peripheral dopaminergic activity.
-- In the second study, Professor Amos D. Korczyn, Ichilor
Hospital, Tel Aviv, Israel, presented data from a planned six
month interim analysis of a three-year, double-blind, multicenter
study comparing ropinirole and bromocriptine, a currently
available therapy for Parkinson's disease, in patients with early
Parkinson's disease. Comparing the UPDRS motor scores in the
non-selegiline groups, there was a statistically significant
difference in improvement between ropinirole (34 percent)
compared to bromocriptine (20 percent). (Selegiline is commonly
used as adjunctive therapy in the management of Parkinsonian
patients.)
-- The third study compared the efficacy and safety in patients
with early Parkinson's disease treated with ropinirole alone or
with L-dopa alone. Professor O. Rascol, Laboratoire de
Pharmacologie Medicale et Clinique, Toulouse, France, presented
data at a six month planned interim analysis of a five year,
double-blind, L-dopa-controlled study in 268 patients. The
results showed that ropinirole was effective in early Parkinson's
disease, successfully maintained patients for six months and
delayed the introduction of L-dopa for that time period. However,
the results of the five-year study are needed to determine
whether the delays in the introduction of L-dopa reduce the
later-stage complications.
Parkinson's disease is progressive with the symptoms increasing
in severity with the duration of the disease. Between 500,000 and
one million Americans are estimated to be diagnosed with
Parkinson's disease. The major symptoms associated with
Parkinson's disease including tremors, jerking motions, a
shuffling walk or short gait and balance problems. More severe
symptoms include severe or intense tremors, limited mobility,
difficulty turning and increased psychiatric symptoms.
A fourth study showing the effectiveness of ropinirole as
adjunctive therapy in Parkinson's disease patients not optimally
controlled with L-dopa will be presented on Thursday.
Ropinirole (Requip(TM), SmithKline Beecham) is currently under
review at the United States Food and Drug Administration.
/delval/
/CONTACT: Media, Sharyn Arnold, 215-751-7074, or Financial,
Richard Williams, 215-751-7002, both of SmithKline Beecham/
/SmithKline Beecham press releases available through Company News
On-Call by fax, 800-758-5804, ext. 801350, or at http:
//www.prnewswire.com / (SBH SBE)
[03-26-96 at 13:00 EST, PR Newswire]
