Boehringer Ingelheim announces new RLS drug data

Boehringer Ingelheim has announced the publication of new data regarding its Mirapexin (pramipexole) treatment for restless legs syndrome (RLS).

This new information, presented last week at the international congress of Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders of the Movement Disorder Society (MDS), revealed that the compound was well-tolerated and efficacious in patients exhibiting daylight symptoms of RLS.

Boehringer Ingelheim reported on the analysis from Waters et al that showed the drug to be efficacious in treating RLS symptoms manifesting in the afternoon and evening, while a new analysis from Kushida et al related to the treatment of symptoms seen earlier in the day.

A final study from Lainey et al investigated the impact of RLS on working life, with a number of patients attributing their unemployment to their symptoms, with others noting an inability to work a full day on a number of recent occasions in the month before the survey.

“The data presented at MDS demonstrate that pramipexole, taken once daily, can provide significant benefits to patients with RLS, even if these symptoms occur earlier in the evening or during the day,” the company reports.

In November 2006, Boehringer Ingelheim reported clinical trial results showing that Mirapexin can improve the depressive and motivational symptoms in Parkinson’s disease patients.