An extract from the plant Tabebuia impetiginosa, which has been used for centuries in traditional medicines of South America, eased Parkinson’s disease symptoms in rat models, a study reported. Treatment aided the animals’ locomotion, eased evident stiffness, and raised dopamine levels in brain tissue, its researchers wrote. The study, “…

When choosing on-demand treatments for “off” episodes, individuals with Parkinson’s disease prefer those with lower out-of-pocket cost and an under-the-tongue (sublingual) mode of administration, according to a survey of 300 patients living in the U.S. Next in preferred features was faster onset, followed by longer duration of “on” periods. These…

Supernus Pharmaceuticals has submitted a new drug application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking approval of SPN-830, its apomorphine infusion pump, the company said. If approved, the pump will be used for the continuous treatment of on-off episodes in adults with Parkinson’s…

Supernus Pharmaceuticals’ acquisition of US WorldMeds’ portfolio of central nervous system (CNS) disease treatments adds two established Parkinson’s disease (PD) therapies and a leading investigative product to its neurology portfolio. The deal calls for a $300 million upfront cash outlay, plus $230 million in milestone payments for…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Sunovion’s Kynmobi (apomorphine hydrochloride) as an on-demand sublingual treatment for off episodes, or times when medication wears off, in people with Parkinson’s disease. The medication, formerly known as APL-130277, is an apomorphine film that is placed under-the-tongue (sublingual administration) when…

Under-the-skin infusions of low-dose apomorphine using a wearable device called h-Patch may help in avoiding off periods and improving motor function in Parkinson’s patients, Valeritas, the technology’s developer, reports. A preclinical study found that apomorphine delivered using h-Patch could be detected in the blood within two hours, with a…

Invasive treatment approaches for advanced Parkinson’s disease have differential effects on disease-associated motor and non-motor symptoms, a real-life observational study shows. These findings suggest that selection of a treatment should be based on each patient’s particular clinical profile, researchers say. The study, “EuroInf 2: Subthalamic…

If the FDA approves Sunovion’s APL-130277 come January, Parkinson’s patients will have a first oral treatment — and a first new treatment in more than a decade — for off episodes, those times of difficulties with movement despite taking treatments that stimulate dopamine receptors, like levodopa. “We think that…

Use of sensor-based methods to evaluate gait can improve individual assessments of Parkinson’s disease patients who are undergoing dopaminergic treatment, researchers suggest. The study with that finding, “Sensor-based gait analysis of individualized improvement during apomorphine titration in Parkinson’s disease,” was published in the Journal of Neurology.

Sunovion Pharmaceuticals’ apomorphine sublingual under-the-tongue film (APL-130277) — now under review for approval —  significantly improved motor fluctuations, or off episodes, in Parkinson’s patients in Phase 3 clinical trial, results show. The double-blind pivotal study, (NCT02469090), evaluated the efficacy and safety of APL-130277 as a fast-acting oral treatment for…