Study shows Neupro (UCB) improves GI symptoms in Parkinsons patients

A study shows that when Parkinson's disease (PD) patients are switched from an oral PD medication to Neupro (Rotigotine Transdermal System), from UCB, they reported improvements in pre-existing gastrointestinal symptoms (GI) symptoms. Primary efficacy outcomes included changes in GI symptoms (measured by a visual analogue scale) and the sum score of GI complaints (six items each rated 0-12), in addition to patient satisfaction in relation to GI symptoms approximately six weeks after treatment switch. Of the 76 patients in the study, 58 had follow up data available for final analysis. The intensity of GI complaints improved numerically on the visual analogue scale, as well as the sum score of GI complaints (11.2�9.0 baseline; 2.1�4.4 after six weeks). Fifty of the 58 patients reported being satisfied or very satisfied with the improvement in GI symptoms after approximately 6 weeks of treatment. The data were presented at the American Academy of Neurology's (AAN) 2013 Annual Scientific Meeting.