Lundbeck and Teva’s Azilect/Agilect (rasagiline) reduces disability in patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease, according to new data from the so-called Largo study, which will be published in tomorrow’s edition of The Lancet.

The trial included 687 PD patients who were experiencing motor fluctuations despite receiving traditional levodopa therapy. Those who had Azilect 1mg once-daily added to their treatment regimen experienced a significant reduction in the duration of “off” time – one of the significant side effects of levodopa therapy in which patients’ mobility can be dramatically affected. Adding Azilect to the regimen also resulted in an improvement in motor symptom control during both “on” and “off” periods.

“Motor fluctuations are among the most common disabling complications of levodopa therapy,” said the trial’s lead investigator, Professor Oliver Rascol of the University Hospital, Toulouse, France. “Treatment regimens with other medications… have been shown to have some positive effect but also carry a more complicated administration and titration schedule,” he added.

PD is a degenerative disorder of the brain, with symptoms including tremor, stiffness, slowness of movement, and impaired balance. The drug won the European green light – where it is known as Azilect – last month [[23/02/05f]]. Teva will be promoting the product in the USA together with Eisai once it wins US Food and Drug Administration approval [[08/11/04f]]. In 2003, Teva estimates sales of PD drugs topped $2.2 billion dollars.