16th July 2016 - News release

ONGENTYS - NEW COMT INHIBITOR FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE

The European Commission has approved Ongentys (opicapone) for use alongside preparations of L-dopa and dopa decarboxylase inhibitors (such as Sinemet and Madopar) in people with Parkinson's Disease who have end-of-dose motor fluctuations, and who cannot be stabilised on those combinations. Opicapone is a new COMT inhibitor. COMT inhibitors aim to maintain dopamine levels for longer.

Two studies were carried out on people with Parkinson's Disease. In the first study, off periods were shortened by 117 minutes (nearly 2 hours) by taking Ongentys 50 mg, compared with 96 minutes (over 1 and a half hours) by taking the COMT inhibitor entacapone, and 56 minutes (less than 1 hour) by taking a placebo. In the second study, off periods were shortened by 119 minutes using Ongentys 50 mg, compared with 64 minutes in patients taking placebo. Therefore, Ongentys (opicapone) was found to be more effective than entacapone, which is presently the most widely used COMT inhibitor.

The most common adverse effects are disorders of the nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Among these, dyskinesia may affect around 2 in 10 people.

For more information go to the Ongentys page at the : European Medicines Agency Ongentys   For more news go to Parkinson's Disease News

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