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Spotlight on opicapone as an adjunct to levodopa in Parkinson’s disease: design, development and potential place in therapy
Authors Annus Á, Vécsei L
Received 28 October 2016
Accepted for publication 7 December 2016
Published 9 January 2017 Volume 2017:11 Pages 143—151
DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/DDDT.S104227
Checked for plagiarism Yes
Review by Single-blind
Peer reviewer comments 2
Editor who approved publication: Dr Georgios D. Panos
Ádám Annus,1 László Vécsei1,2
1Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center, University of Szeged, 2MTA-SZTE Neuroscience Research Group, Szeged, Hungary
Abstract: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive, chronic, neurodegenerative disease characterized by rigidity, tremor, bradykinesia and postural instability secondary to dopaminergic deficit in the nigrostriatal system. Currently, disease-modifying therapies are not available, and levodopa (LD) treatment remains the gold standard for controlling motor and nonmotor symptoms of the disease. LD is extensively and rapidly metabolized by peripheral enzymes, namely, aromatic amino acid decarboxylase and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT). To increase the bioavailability of LD, COMT inhibitors are frequently used in clinical settings. Opicapone is a novel COMT inhibitor that has been recently approved by the European Medicines Agency as an adjunctive therapy to combinations of LD and aromatic amino acid decarboxylase inhibitor in adult PD patients with end-of-dose motor fluctuations. We aimed to review the biochemical properties of opicapone, summarize its preclinical and clinical trials and discuss its future potential role in the treatment of PD.
Keywords: Parkinson’s disease, COMT inhibitors, opicapone
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