ROTIGOTINE (NEUPRO) CLINICAL TRIAL RESULTS

Parkinsonism Related Disorders [2012] Feb 9 [Epub ahead of print] (L.W.Elmer, E.Surmann, B.Boroojerdi, J.Jankovic) Complete abstract

A clinical trial assessed the long terms safety and tolerability of Neupro® (Rotigotine Transdermal System) in people with early idiopathic Parkinson's Disease. Neupro® (Rotigotine Transdermal System) is a dopamine agonist that is applied to the skin in order to deliver rotigotine over a 24-hour period. For more information go to Neupro.

The average exposure to Neupro was just over 5 years. Less than half of the people using Neupro completed the clinical trial. Nearly a quarter (24%) withdrew because of adverse events. Some of those involved (6%) ceased using Neupro because of lack of efficacy. The most common adverse events were : somnolence (23%), falls (17%), peripheral edema (14%), nausea (12%), application site reactions (12%). Just over a quarter (26%) did not initiate L-dopa. Dyskinesias were reported by a quarter (25%) of patients. The vast majority of those reported their first episode of dyskinesia after initiating L-dopa. The average scores on the UPDRS (a Parkinson's Disease symptom questionnaire) remained below where they started for up to two years. For a printable version of this article click here.  In order to refer to this article on its own click here. 

In April 2008, Neupro was withdrawn from use in the U.S.A. because specific batches of Neupro had deviated from their specification. In June 2009, UCB proposed new refrigerated storage conditions to alleviate crystallization on the patches. UCB has already made progress in reformulation and remains committed to bringing Neupro to U.S. patients. For more information click here.

THE EFFECT OF TAI CHI ON PARKINSON'S DISEASE

New England Journal of Medicine [2012] 366 (6) : 511-519 (F.Li, P.Harmer, K.Fitzgerald, E.Eckstrom, R.Stock, J.Galver, G.Maddalozzo, S.S.Batya) Complete abstract

People with Parkinson's Disease tend to have impaired balance, and an increased risk of falling. A clinical trial assessed the effect of Tai Chi on postural control in Parkinson's Disease. Tai Chi is a traditional Chinese martial art and form of exercise. For more information go to Tai Chi.  Participants took part in 60-minute exercise sessions twice weekly for 24 weeks. Although the researchers claimed that Tai Chi performed consistently better than other methods, the improvement was only 5% better than resistance training, and 12% better than stretching exercises. The Tai Chi group performed better than the stretching group in all secondary outcomes and outperformed the resistance-training group in stride length and functional reach. Tai Chi lowered the incidence of falls when compared with stretching exercises but not when compared with resistance training.

Out of the previous studies in the medical literature concerning Tai Chi and Parkinson's Disease, four were either non-randomised or uncontrolled clinical trials. Two failed to show any effect. Only one study showed Tai Chi to be superior to conventional exercise for Parkinson's Disease. So the evidence is insufficient to suggest that Tai Chi is effective in Parkinson's Disease. In order to refer to this article on its own click here.