The first paste for Parkinson's patients

Neupro paste
(Photo: ecanadanow)

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new drug to treat symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Produced under the name Neupro, the drug is manufactured by German-based Schwarz Pharma AG, the first drug for Parkinson's patients.

Neupro contains rotigotine , a pharmaceutical ingredient that has never been approved before in the United States. It helps treat tremors and other symptoms of Parkinson's disease by activating dopamine receptors in the brain. People with Parkinson's disease lose many brain cells that are responsible for producing dopamine - a chemical that can transmit information between cells to help control muscle movement.

'This is an important step forward for patients with Parkinson's disease,' said Iris Loew-Friedrich of Scharz Pharma AG.

There are 3 types of Neupro for patients: 2mg, 4mg and 6mg, depending on the severity of symptoms of the patient. Each patch is effective within 24 hours. Currently, the world has 4 million people with Parkinson's disease, in the US alone this figure is 1 million.

T.VY