 |
 |
April 17, 1997 Clinical results presented at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting in Boston indicate that tolcapone (Tasmar, Roche) is effective in patients with Parkinson's disease suffering from on-off periods. Tolcapone is the most potent and selective inhibitor of COMT, the enzyme that metabolizes levodopa peripherally, discovered to date. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 215 patients, Adler et al. found that tolcapone reduced off periods by 30-37%, even as daily levodopa requirements were reduced by 36-46%. Tolcapone was well tolerated, with only 3-5% of patients withdrawing from the study because of adverse effects. Study results are similar to those reported in the Jan. Neurology (1997; 48: 81-7). <http://www.pharminfo.com/pubs/pnn/pnn9.html#8> ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [log in to unmask]