 |
 |
------------------------------------------------------------------------- SmithKline Beecham's Drug For Parkinson's Disease Clears FDA ------------------------------------------------------------------------- WESTPORT, Sep 23 (Reuters) - Ropinirole hydrochloride (Requip, SmithKline Beecham) has been approved by the FDA for treatment of patients with Parkinson's disease. According to a company press release, ropinirole hydrochloride, a second generation dopamine agonist, has been cleared for marketing both as initial therapy for early signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease and as adjunctive therapy for patients with advanced Parkinson's disease who are already taking levodopa. "Requip is a significant advancement that may change the way physicians treat this complicated disease," Dr. Ray Watts of Emory said in the press release. "Requip allows physicians to delay the use of levodopa... which may be associated with severe motor fluctuations after long-term use." In clinical trials, patients with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease treated with ropinirole experienced significantly greater improvement in motor score compared with placebo-treated patients. In a separate trial, patients with advanced Parkinson's disease were able to reduce their requirement for levodopa while taking ropinirole. The drug was well-tolerated in both trials. Westport Newsroom 203 319 2700 Copyright 1997 Reuters Limited. <http://www.reutershealth.com/news/docs/199709/19970923rgc.html> ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [log in to unmask]