Re: DDB128

[John Cottingham <jcott@xxxxxxxxx>]

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At 09:55 PM 5/2/97 -0400, you wrote:
>Bestwishes from Philip Dunn]
>pdunn@xxxxxxxxxxx
>
>
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tolcapone / Tasmar (R)
ANTIPARKINSON: Dopamine agonist: TRIAL PHASE

Tolcapone is the most potent COMT inhibitor currently
in clinical development. Studies in patients with Parkinson's
disease in the United States and Europe are complete and have
been submitted to the FDA. Tolcapone prolongs the effects of
levodopa thereby decreasing motor response fluctuations in
patients
and improving quality of life. Patients on levodopa that do not
experience motor fluctuations also benefited significantly through
improved quality of life and decreased symptoms.
        Tolcapone is given three times daily in doses from 100 mg
to 200 mg in addition to the patient's levodopa medication
schedule.
Peak effect of tolcapone is reached in about 1 - 2 hours and
maintained for the duration of the 6 hour dosing interval.
Patients experience better control of their Parkinsonian symptoms
while needing lower doses of levodopa. Side effects are few, but
include occasional mild headache, nausea, loose stools, change
in urine color, and in some patients a transient increase in
dyskinesia. Tolcapone is absorbed by the small intestine and
metabolized by the liver. Food delays the absorption of tolcapone
somewhat, but this does not appear to be clinically significant.
The ability of this compound to prolong blood and brain levels of
levodopa while reducing the levels of potentially toxic
metabolites
should be an important development in the treatment of
Parkinson's disease.



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jcott@xxxxxxxxx    That man may last, but never lives,
                    Who much receives, but nothing gives;
HomeBoy #Parkinsons  Whom none can love, whom none can thank,
                      Creation's blot, creation's blank.
John Cottingham        Thomas Gibbons (1720-1785):
                        When Jesus dwelt.











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