17 Oct Injectable drug to ease advanced Parkinson’s disease symptoms approved by FDA

By James Powel, USA Today

The Food and Drug Administration approved a drug produced by AbbVie for the treatment of late stage Parkinsons disease the company announced Thursday.

The regulator approved Vyalev, also known as Produodopa, a 24-hour infusion injected below the skin that treats motor fluctuations in patients with advanced Parkinsons.

“For too long, the Parkinson’s community has had limited treatment options for advanced disease,” Dr. Robert A. Hauser, professor of neurology at the University of South Florida said in a press release. “Due to the progressive nature of the disease, oral medications are eventually no longer as effective at motor symptom control and surgical treatment may be required.”

The company said that its phase 3 trials showed that superior improvement in motor fluctuations compared to an oral drug. AbbVie also said that the drug provided more “on” time where symptoms were relieved with less “off” time when symptoms return. Read more …