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Wednesday August 27 12:54 PM EDT Roche Parkinson's drug gets EU approval BASLE, Switzerland, Aug 27 (Reuter) - Swiss pharmaceuticals group Roche Holding AG (ROCZG.S) said it received European Union approval for its new tolcapone medication, branded Tasmar, for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Roche described Tasmar as the first of a new class of drugs called COMT-inhibitors. It is designed to enhance and prolong the therapeutic activity of levodopa, a key medication used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Roche said Tasmar will be available in Germany and the United Kingdom by the end of August with other European countries following soon thereafter. The U.S. regulatory process is proceeding on schedule, Roche said. The drug has already been approved in Switzerland. Tasmar is one of three new Roche drugs which will be heavily marketed this year. Pharmaceutical industry analysts say the drug could produce sales of more than $500 million five years into its product cycle.