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Article
Opicapone for the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease "Off" Episodes: Pharmacology and Clinical Considerations
Clinical Drug Investigation
  • Amnon A Berger, Harvard Medical School
  • Christopher Robinson, Harvard Medical School
  • Ariel Winnick, Soroka University
  • Jonathan Izygon, Soroka University
  • Binil M Jacob, Soroka University
  • Mackenzie J Noonan, Louisiana State University
  • Alan David Kaye, Louisiana State University Health Science Center
  • Jessica S. Kaye, University of the Pacific
  • Adam M. Kaye, University of the Pacific
  • Elyse M. Cornett, Louisiana State University
  • Rutvij J Shah, Louisiana State University
  • Omar Viswanath, University of Arizona
  • Ivan Urits, Louisiana State University
ORCiD
Adam M. Kaye: 0000-0002-7224-3322
Document Type
Article
DOI
10.1007/s40261-021-01109-3
Publication Date
2-1-2022
Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder. It is also the fastest-growing neurodegenerative disorder and has more than doubled between 1990 and 2016. Parkinson's disease causes significant morbidity and disability from motor dysfunction, sleep disturbances, and cognitive and psychiatric symptoms. This paper reviews recent evidence in the treatment of PD "off" episodes with the novel drug opicapone, including its efficacy, safety, and clinical indications. Opicapone is a novel, peripherally acting catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) inhibitor used as adjunctive therapy to carbidopa/levodopa for treatment and prevention of "off" episodes. It has been approved for use as an adjunct to levodopa since 2016 in Europe and has recently (April 2020) gained FDA approval for use in the USA. By inhibiting COMT, opicapone slows levodopa metabolism and increases its availability. Several clinical studies demonstrated significant improvement in treatment efficacy and reduction in the duration of "off" episodes The main side effect demonstrated was dyskinesia, mostly with the 100 mg dose, which is higher than the approved, effective dose of 50 mg.

Citation Information
Amnon A Berger, Christopher Robinson, Ariel Winnick, Jonathan Izygon, et al.. "Opicapone for the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease "Off" Episodes: Pharmacology and Clinical Considerations" Clinical Drug Investigation Vol. 42 Iss. 2 (2022) p. 127 - 135 ISSN: 1179-1918
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/adam-kaye/177/