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Hello: Jacob Drollinger <[log in to unmask]> asks: >What is Requip? The following news release should shed some light on the this new dopamine agonist ---> First Appro For SB's ReQuip Comes From The UK Source: Marketletter Marketletter July 15, 1996 via Individual Inc. : SmithKline Beecham's drug ReQuip (ropinirole) has received approval for marketing from the UK licensing authorities for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. This is the world's first approval for ReQuip, the company points out. Approval applications have also been filed in the USA, Canada, France and Italy. Commenting on the news, SB Pharmaceuticals, Europe, chairman Bradley Wilson expressed particular pleasure at the broad labelling claim (for the treatment of idiopathic Parkinson's in early stages, alone or in combination with low-dose L-dopa) that has been approved, enabling many Parkinson's sufferers, including those in the early stages of the disease, to benefit from this new product. A UK launch is planned very shortly, and a company spokesman told the Marketletter that ReQuip would be priced comparably with other newer dopaminergic agonists. This means an average yearly maintenance cost of between L1,000 and L1,500 ($1,559-$2,338). In the world's leading six or seven pharmaceutical markets, sales of existing Parkinson's disease drugs are estimated at around L500 million, with the UK taking a share of just under L38 million, industry sources told the Marketletter, and ReQuip is expected to take market share from this. Clinical Evidence ReQuip is a potent, specific, non-ergoline dopamine D2 agonist with a novel chemical structure. The molecule is smaller and simpler than those of ergoline dopamine agonists, and resembles naturally-occurring dopamine more closely than currently available dopamine agonists, SB notes. In clinical trials, when ReQuip was compared with L-dopa, both medicines showed similar efficacy in early disease, and studies published earlier this year (Marketletter April 8) reinforced the value of the product in early-stage treatment. [07-09-96 at 14:46 EDT, Copyright 1996, Marketletter] ============================== Margaret Tuchman (54yrs, dx1980)