Teva presents clinical pharmacological study on Parkinson’s disease treatment

KANSAS CITY, Mo. A drug used to treat Parkinson’s disease did not increase the risk of sensitivity to an amino acid-derived compound in patients who received the highest approved dose, the drug’s manufacturer announced Tuesday at a Parkinson’s disease conference.

Presenting data from a clinical pharmacological study at the 13th International Conference of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders in Paris, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries’ neuroscience division said the drug Azilect (rasagiline) did not increase the risk of tyramine sensitivity when patients received the 1 mg dose.

The study was designed to assess the risk of hypertensive crisis due to interactions between Azilect and tyramine, a compound formed from the breakdown of the amino acid tyrosine that can cause migraine headaches in some people.

“We are pleased with the results, which met our primary objectives,” Teva Neuroscience general manager Jon Congleton stated. “This study provides continuing evidence of the value of Azilect.”