Received: from theta.pair.com (theta.pair.com [207.86.128.17]) by Omega.Capital.Net (8.8.4/8.6.12) with ESMTP id LAA09463 for <[log in to unmask]>; Fri, 25 Apr 1997 11:25:57 -0400 (EDT) Received: (from palyrogo@localhost) by theta.pair.com (8.8.5/8.6.12) id LAA26464 for [log in to unmask]; Fri, 25 Apr 1997 11:19:09 -0400 (EDT) Received: from gotham.mcny.com ([log in to unmask] [207.122.13.30]) by theta.pair.com (8.8.5/8.6.12) with ESMTP id LAA26457 for <[log in to unmask]>; Fri, 25 Apr 1997 11:19:06 -0400 (EDT) X-Envelope-To: <[log in to unmask]> Received: from jkinscy.mcny.com (houston.mcny.com [207.122.13.51]) by gotham.mcny.com (8.8.5/8.7.2) with SMTP id LAA22261; Fri, 25 Apr 1997 11:11:29 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <[log in to unmask]> X-Sender: [log in to unmask] X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Light Version 3.0.1 (32) Date: Fri, 25 Apr 1997 11:17:25 -0400 To: (Recipient list suppressed) From: Jennifer Kinscy <[log in to unmask]> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Dear Webmaster or Site Administrator, Below please find a press release concerning timely and important information about Parkinson's Disease that we think may be of value to your web site. Please feel free to publish this press release on your site. In the event that you have any questions, please email me at [log in to unmask] Sincerely, Jennifer Kinscy [log in to unmask] ****************************************************************************** For further information on Requip, a full version of the Requip press release is available FREE by e-mailing [log in to unmask] In the subject area please write subscribe parkinsons "your e-mail address." The information will automatically be sent to you. To delete your name please write unsubscribe parkinsons "your e-mail address." ****************************************************************************** Study Shows Ropinirole Is An Effective Treatment For Parkinson's Disease Ropinirole Offers Long-term Control of Motor Symptoms and Delays Need for Levodopa Therapy Boston, MA, April 16, 1997 -- Patients with early Parkinson's disease can achieve effective control of motor symptoms when treated with ropinirole (Requip, SmithKline Beecham), according to a new twelve month study. The study also showed that significantly more patients treated with ropinirole did not require supplemental treatment with levodopa compared to placebo-treated patients. Ropinirole is an important development in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Unlike currently available dopamine agonists, ropinirole has demonstrated efficacy in placebo-controlled clinical trials when used as early monotherapy and may offer a new approach to treating Parkinson's disease. These results were presented today at the 49th annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) in Boston. Parkinson's disease patients suffer from a deficiency of dopamine in the brain. 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. Dopamine agonists are also administered to correct the dopamine deficiency in Parkinson's disease patients and thereby reduce symptoms. These drugs 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. Ropinirole is a second-generation, non-ergot dopamine agonist that selectively binds to the D2 family of receptors. 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. Currently available dopamine agonists are indicated for use only in advanced Parkinson's disease. The results presented today were from a continuation of an initial six month, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. In the initial six month trial, which was presented at last year's AAN meeting, patients treated with ropinirole showed significant improvement in motor function, and significantly fewer of these patients required supplemental levodopa therapy compared to the placebo patients. Patients who satisfactorily completed the initial trial were eligible for enrollment in the double blind, placebo-controlled, six month extension study. A total of 147 patients elected to enter the extension study. Investigators assessed the efficacy of ropinirole over the entire twelve month period. A statistically significantly greater proportion of patients in the ropinirole group (44 percent) received monotherapy for twelve months without the need for levodopa, compared to the placebo group (22.4 percent). In addition, fewer patients treated with ropinirole (19 percent) required additional symptomatic therapy with levodopa compared to patients in the placebo group (45.6 percent) at the end of the twelve month period. This difference was also statistically significant. Parkinson's disease, which affects between 500,000 and 1,000,000 Americans, is a chronic and progressive neurological disorder that causes uncontrollable 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. Requip 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. ###