Orion drug ‘improves quality of life in Parkinson’s disease’

European pharmaceutical company Orion has announced the results of a quality of life study into the use of Stavelo in early phase Parkinson’s disease.

The research shows that the enhanced levodopa therapy shows improvements in both the control of symptoms of the disease and in improvements to quality of life.

Orion states that earlier use of the therapy could give benefits to patients which would not otherwise be achieved.

Mary Baker, patron and immediate past president of the European Parkinson’s Disease Association (EPDA), said: “The results of the study are very exciting for people with Parkinson’s and their families alike.”

She added that the disease can be “devastating” and that the recent research had shown that Stavelo can improve the social and emotional wellbeing of Parkinson’s sufferers.

This was echoed by Professor Anthony H Schapira from the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the Royal Free Hospital in London, who said the research showed that the drug could “significantly improve quality of life and symptom control”.

In 2004, Orion Pharma and Novartis launched the first study exploring the capability of Stavelo to delay of motor complications that result from Parkinson’s disease.

The Stavelo reduction in dyskeinesia evaluation study examined the effects of the medication containing levodopa, carbidopa and entacapone, compared to conventional levodopa and carbidopa formulations.