Analysis of falls in patients with epilepsy enrolled in the perampanel phase III randomized double-blind studies.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze occurrence of falls among patients with partial seizures, with/without secondarily generalized seizures (SGS), and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures (PGTCS) in the perampanel phase III clinical studies. METHODS: Studies 304, 305, and 306 randomized subjects (≥12 years) with drug-resistant partial seizures (with/without SGS) to perampanel 2, 4, 8, or 12 mg or placebo for double-blind treatment. The adverse event (AE) of falls was analyzed in the Safety Analysis Set (N = 1480). Study 332 randomized subjects aged ≥12 years with a diagnosis of PGTCS into perampanel 8 mg or placebo groups for double-blind treatment. In a systematic review of reported falls in the study 332 Safety Analysis Set (N = 163), falls were queried to establish whether each was seizure related; subjects with falls resulting from a seizure were not included in this analysis. RESULTS: For studies 304/305/306, treatment-emergent falls occurred in 5.1% perampanel-treated versus 3.4% placebo-treated subjects with partial seizures. Exposure-adjusted rate for falls (falls/subject-month of exposure) was greater for total perampanel than for placebo (0.0175 vs. 0.0093) and was dose related for those receiving perampanel. In subjects with SGS, incidence of treatment-emergent falls was 4.3% in perampanel and 4.0% in placebo groups. Exposure-adjusted rates were 0.0169 and 0.0097 falls per subject-month of exposure in perampanel and placebo, respectively. For study 332, 2.5% perampanel-treated and 1.2% placebo-treated subjects with PGTCS had treatment-emergent falls that were not part of a seizure. Exposure-adjusted rates were 0.0169 and 0.0032 falls per subject-month of exposure in perampanel and placebo, respectively. SIGNIFICANCE: Results of the perampanel studies suggest that patients with epilepsy should be monitored due to the common risk of falls.

Ataluren delays loss of ambulation and respiratory decline in nonsense mutation Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients.

Aim: We investigated the effect of ataluren plus standard of care (SoC) on age at loss of ambulation (LoA) and respiratory decline in patients with nonsense mutation Duchenne muscular dystrophy (nmDMD) versus patients with DMD on SoC alone. Patients & methods: Study 019 was a long-term Phase III study of ataluren safety in nmDMD patients with a history of ataluren exposure. Propensity score matching identified Study 019 and CINRG DNHS patients similar in disease progression predictors. Results & conclusion: Ataluren plus SoC was associated with a 2.2-year delay in age at LoA (p = 0.0006), and a 3.0-year delay in decline of predicted forced vital capacity to <60% in nonambulatory patients (p = 0.0004), versus SoC. Ataluren plus SoC delays disease progression and benefits ambulatory and nonambulatory patients with nmDMD. ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT01557400.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of rufinamide as adjunctive therapy for refractory partial-onset seizures.

PURPOSE: Efficacy and safety of adjunctive rufinamide (3,200 mg/day) was assessed in adolescents and adults with inadequately controlled partial-onset seizures receiving maintenance therapy with up to three antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). METHODS: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicenter study comprised a 56-day baseline phase (BP), 12-day titration phase, and 84-day maintenance phase (MP). The primary efficacy variable was percentage change in total partial seizure frequency per 28 days (MP vs. BP). Secondary efficacy outcome measures included ≥50% responder rate and reduction in mean total partial seizure frequency during the MP. Safety and tolerability evaluation included adverse events (AEs), physical and neurologic examinations, and laboratory values. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic assessments were conducted. RESULTS: Three hundred fifty-seven patients were randomized: 176 to rufinamide and 181 to placebo. Patients had a median of 13.3 seizures per 28 days during BP; 86% were receiving ≥2 AEDs. For the intent-to-treat population, the median percentage reduction in total partial seizure frequency per 28 days was 23.25 for rufinamide versus 9.80 for placebo (p = 0.007). Rufinamide-treated patients were more than twice as likely to have had a ≥50% reduction in partial seizure frequency (32.5% vs. 14.3%; p < 0.001) and had a greater reduction in median total partial seizure rate per 28 days during the MP (13.2 vs. 5.2; p < 0.001). Treatment-emergent AEs occurring at ≥5% higher incidence in the rufinamide group compared with placebo were dizziness, fatigue, nausea, somnolence, and diplopia. CONCLUSIONS: Adjunctive treatment with rufinamide reduced total partial seizures in refractory patients. AEs reported were consistent with the known tolerability profile of rufinamide.

Safety and tolerability of donepezil 23 mg in moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND: Donepezil 23 mg/d, recently approved in the United States for treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease (AD), was developed to address the need for an additional treatment option for patients with advanced AD. This report, based on a pivotal phase 3 study, presents a detailed analysis of the safety and tolerability of increasing donepezil to 23 mg/d compared with continuing 10 mg/d. METHOD: Safety analyses comprised examination of the incidence, severity, and timing of treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) and their relationship to treatment initiation; changes in weight, electrocardiogram, vital signs, and laboratory parameters; and the incidence of premature study discontinuation. The analysis population (n = 1434) included all randomized patients who took at least 1 dose of study drug and had a postbaseline safety assessment. To further examine the effect of transition from a lower to a higher donepezil dose, a pooled analysis of safety data from 2 phase 3 trials of donepezil 5 mg/d and 10 mg/d was also performed. RESULTS: The safety population comprised 1434 patients: donepezil 23 mg/d (n = 963); donepezil 10 mg/d (n = 471); completion rates were 71.1% and 84.7%, respectively. The most common AEs were nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (donepezil 23 mg/d: 11.8%, 9.2%, 8.3%; donepezil 10 mg/d: 3.4%, 2.5%, 5.3%, respectively). AEs that contributed most to early discontinuations were vomiting (2.9% of patients in the 23 mg/d group and 0.4% in the 10 mg/d group), nausea (1.9% and 0.4%), diarrhea (1.7% and 0.4%), and dizziness (1.1% and 0.0%). The percentages of patients with AEs in the 23 mg/d group, as well as the timing, type, and severity of these AEs, were similar to those seen in previous donepezil trials with titration from 5 to 10 mg/d. Serious AEs were uncommon (23 mg/d, 8.3%; 10 mg/d, 9.6%). DISCUSSION: The 23 mg/d dose of donepezil was associated with typical cholinergic AEs, particularly gastrointestinal-related AEs, similar to those observed in studies with a dose increase from 5 to 10 mg/d. CONCLUSION: The good safety and predictable tolerability profile for donepezil 23 mg/d supports its favorable risk/benefit ratio in patients with moderate to severe AD.

Metabolite V, an epoxide species is a minor circulating metabolite in humans following a single oral dose of deflazacort.

Deflazacort (Emflaza) was approved in the United States in 2017 for the treatment of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy in patients aged 2 years and older. Several deflazacort metabolites were isolated and identified from rats, dogs, monkeys, and humans. Among them, 1ß,2ß-epoxy-3ß-hydroxy-21-desacetyl deflazacort, referred to as Metabolite V, was reported to be one of the major circulating metabolites in humans. However, its quantitative distribution in plasma was not fully characterized. The objective of this study was to determine deflazacort plasma pharmacokinetics, metabolite profiles and their quantitative exposures in humans following a single oral dose. Six healthy male subjects were each administered a single oral dose of 60 mg [14 C]-deflazacort. Plasma and urine were collected and deflazacort metabolites in plasma were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography radio-profiling followed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry characterization. Metabolite V was isolated from urine and its structure was further confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. These analyses demonstrated that deflazacort was not detectable in plasma; of the eight circulating deflazacort metabolites identified or characterized, the pharmacologically active metabolite 21-desacetyl deflazacort and inactive metabolite 6ß-hydroxy-21-desacetyl deflazacort accounted for 25.0% and 32.9% of the 0-24 hours plasma total radioactivity, respectively, while Metabolite V, an epoxide species, was a minor circulating metabolite, representing only about 4.7% of the total plasma radioactivity.

Evaluation of long-term safety, tolerability, and behavioral outcomes with adjunctive rufinamide in pediatric patients (≥1 to <4 years old) with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome: Final results from randomized study 303.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the long-term safety, tolerability, and behavioral effects of adjunctive rufinamide in pediatric patients (≥1 to <4 years old) with inadequately controlled seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS). METHODS: Study 303 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01405053) was a multicenter, randomized, open-label, Phase III trial. Patients were randomized (2:1) to oral suspension rufinamide (≤45 mg/kg/day) or any other investigator-chosen antiepileptic drug (AED) for a 2-year treatment period. Primary safety/tolerability assessments included monitoring of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and serious TEAEs. Behavioral effects were assessed via the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) using the Total Problems score and change from baseline in CBCL Total Problems score. CBCL subscores were also evaluated. RESULTS: The Safety Analysis Set included 37 patients (rufinamide: n = 25; any other AED: n = 12). TEAE incidence was similar between the rufinamide (88.0%) and any-other-AED groups (83.3%); serious TEAE incidence was also similar between treatment groups (40.0% and 41.7%, respectively). Between treatment groups, the difference in the least squares mean CBCL Total Problems score across time was not significant (p = 0.7083), behavior outcomes were similar across all endpoints, and there were no consistent trends in CBCL subscores. SIGNIFICANCE: Long-term (2 years) adjunctive rufinamide was well tolerated in pediatric patients with LGS. Behavioral outcomes were comparable between the rufinamide and any-other-AED groups, however the small sample size and difficulties assessing behavior in this population should be noted. The challenges of this study raise the issue of revising how studies in very young children with rare and complex epilepsies are performed.

A 5-HT2A receptor inverse agonist, ACP-103, reduces tremor in a rat model and levodopa-induced dyskinesias in a monkey model.

A potent 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)2A receptor inverse agonist and antagonist, ACP-103 [N-(4-fluorophenylmethyl)-N-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-N'-(4-(2-methylpropyloxy)phenylmethyl) carbamide (2R,3R)-dihydroxybutanedioate (2:1, active:salt)], was evaluated for its ability to reduce the primary motor symptom of tremor using tacrine-induced tremulous jaw movements in rats, which is an animal model of parkinsonian tremor. Furthermore, ACP-103 was evaluated for its ability to reduce levodopa-induced dyskinesias in monkeys rendered parkinsonian with MPTP [1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine]. ACP-103 reduced tacrine-induced tremulous jaw movements in rats. In addition, ACP-103 administered in combination with levodopa caused a dose-related reduction in dyskinesias in monkeys. These data suggest that ACP-103 may have the potential to reduce tremor and levodopa-induced dyskinesias in Parkinson's disease.

Dosing considerations for rufinamide in patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome: Phase III trial results and real-world clinical data.

PURPOSE: Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), a rare, severe form of childhood-onset epilepsy, is difficult to control. Rufinamide is indicated for adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with LGS in adults and pediatric patients aged ≥1 year. In clinical practice, rufinamide dosing and titration may differ from the trial setting. Here, rufinamide clinical trial data are compared with real-world experience to provide insight into optimal dosing and titration strategies. METHODS: Rufinamide Phase III and open-label extension (OLE) studies were reviewed; effect of titration and dose on adverse events (AEs) and concomitant AED use were analyzed. Real-world studies of rufinamide in LGS were identified via PubMed search. Clinical data were extracted and compared. RESULTS: Results demonstrated that a rapid titration schedule (7 or 14 days) of rufinamide was tolerable for most patients and resulted in highly significant reductions in total and tonic-atonic seizures, with efficacy and tolerability sustained over 3 years. The most common AEs during the Phase III study - somnolence, vomiting, and pyrexia - occurred during the first 3 weeks of treatment, and a small subset of patients were unable to reach target dose in that time. Use of concomitant AEDs had no clinically significant effect on plasma concentrations of rufinamide. Data from real-world clinical studies are consistent with the Phase III and OLE study results. However, relative to those used in clinical trials, lower doses and slower titration schedules were commonly employed in real-world settings. CONCLUSIONS: A lower dose and slower titration schedule ("low and slow") may reduce incidence of AEs without compromising efficacy of rufinamide in LGS.

Safety and pharmacokinetic profile of rufinamide in pediatric patients aged less than 4 years with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome: An interim analysis from a multicenter, randomized, active-controlled, open-label study.

OBJECTIVE: A good knowledge of safety and age group-specific pharmacokinetics (PK) of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in young pediatric patients is of great importance in clinical practice. This paper presents 6-month interim safety and PK from an ongoing 2-year open-label study (Study 303) of adjunctive rufinamide treatment in pediatric subjects ≥ 1 to < 4 years with inadequately controlled epilepsies of the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) spectrum. METHODS: Subjects (N = 37) were randomized to either rufinamide or any other approved AED chosen by the investigator as adjunctive therapy to the subject's existing regimen of 1-3 AEDs. RESULTS: Interim safety results showed that treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were similar between the rufinamide (22 [88.0%]) and any-other-AED group (9 [81.8%]), with most events considered mild or moderate. A population PK analysis was conducted including plasma rufinamide concentrations from Study 303 and two other study populations of LGS subjects ≥ 4 years. The rufinamide PK profile was dose independent. The apparent clearance (CL/F) estimated from the PK model was 2.19 L/h; it was found to increase significantly as a function of body weight. Coadministration of valproic acid significantly decreased rufinamide CL/F. CL/F was not significantly affected by other concomitant AEDs, age, gender, race, hepatic function, or renal function. No adjustments to body weight-based rufinamide dosing in subjects ≥ 1 to < 4 years are necessary. SIGNIFICANCE: Rufinamide was safe and well tolerated in these pediatric subjects. Results from the interim analysis demonstrate that rufinamide's safety and PK profile is comparable in subjects ≥ 1 to < 4 and ≥ 4 years with LGS. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Study 303 (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01405053).

Perampanel for tonic-clonic seizures in idiopathic generalized epilepsy A randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess efficacy and safety of adjunctive perampanel in patients with drug-resistant, primary generalized tonic-clonic (PGTC) seizures in idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE). METHODS: In this multicenter, double-blind study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01393743; funded by Eisai Inc.), patients 12 years or older with PGTC seizures and IGE were randomized to placebo or perampanel during a 4-week titration period (perampanel up titrated from 2 to 8 mg/d, or highest tolerated dose) and 13-week maintenance period. The primary endpoint was percent change in PGTC seizure frequency per 28 days (titration plus maintenance vs baseline). The key secondary endpoint (primary endpoint for European Union registration) was 50% PGTC seizure responder rate (patients achieving $50% reduction in PGTC seizure frequency; maintenance vs baseline). Treatment-emergent adverse events were monitored. RESULTS: Of 164 randomized patients, 162 comprised the full analysis set (placebo, 81; perampanel, 81). Compared with placebo, perampanel conferred a greater median percent change in PGTC seizure frequency per 28 days (238.4%vs 276.5%; p , 0.0001) and greater 50%PGTC seizure responder rate (39.5% vs 64.2%; p 5 0.0019). During maintenance, 12.3% of placebo treated patients and 30.9%of perampanel-treated patients achieved PGTC seizure freedom. For the safety analysis (placebo, 82; perampanel, 81), the most frequent treatment-emergent adverse events with perampanel were dizziness (32.1%) and fatigue (14.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Adjunctive perampanel was well tolerated and improved control of drug-resistant PGTC seizures in patients with IGE. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class I evidence that adjunctive perampanel reduces PGTC seizure frequency, compared with placebo, in patients with drug-resistant PGTC seizures in IGE.

Striatal glutamatergic mechanisms and extrapyramidal movement disorders.

The nonphysiologic stimulation of striatal dopaminergic receptors, as a result of disease- or drug-related denervation or intermittent excitation, triggers adaptive responses in the basal ganglia which contribute to the appearance of parkinsonian symptoms and later to the dyskinesias and other alterations in motor response associated with dopaminergic therapy. Current evidence suggests that these altered responses involve activation of signal transduction cascades in striatal medium spiny neurons linking dopaminergic to coexpressed ionotropic glutamatergic receptors of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and Alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole proprionic acid (AMPA) classes. These intraneuronal signaling pathways appear capable of modifying the phosphorylation state of NMDA and AMPA receptor subunits; resultant sensitization enhances cortical glutamatergic input which in turn modifies striatal output in ways that compromise motor behavior. The regulation of these spiny neuron glutamate receptors can also be affected by the activation state of coexpressed nondopaminergic receptors as well as by changes associated with Huntington's disease. These observations lend new insight into molecular mechanisms contributing to the integration of synaptic inputs to spiny neurons. They also suggest novel approaches to the pharmacotherapy of extrapyramidal motor dysfunction.

Perampanel in Parkinson disease fluctuations: a double-blind randomized trial with placebo and entacapone.

OBJECTIVES: Perampanel is a selective and noncompetitive α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole propionic acid-type glutamate receptor antagonist that improves motor symptoms in animal models of Parkinson disease (PD). The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of perampanel in L-dopa-treated patients with moderately severe PD and motor fluctuations using an active comparator study design. METHODS: This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, 3-arm, parallel-group, controlled study assessing the effects of perampanel (4 mg/d), placebo, or entacapone (200 mg with each dose of L-dopa) in 723 L-dopa-treated patients with PD with "OFF" problems. The primary outcome measure was the change from baseline in mean total daily OFF time based on diaries. Secondary end points included change from baseline in Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part II while OFF, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III while "ON," and mean total daily ON time without dyskinesias or with nontroublesome dyskinesias. RESULTS: In total, 480 patients (66.4%) completed the study, which was terminated early after negative results of 2 other large placebo-controlled studies became available. Perampanel was not superior to placebo on any efficacy end point, whereas entacapone was superior to placebo on the primary end point (P = 0.034) and most secondary outcomes. Perampanel was generally well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Perampanel (4 mg/d) was well tolerated but did not have a clinically significant effect in improving motor symptoms of L-dopa-treated patients with moderately advanced PD and motor fluctuations. These patients did respond to the active comparator, entacapone, confirming the validity of the findings despite the early termination of the study.

Bioavailability of three rufinamide oral suspensions compared with the marketed 400-mg tablet formulation: results from a randomized-sequence, open-label, four-period, four-sequence crossover study in healthy subjects.

BACKGROUND: Rufinamide is indicated for the adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome in patients aged ≥4 years. OBJECTIVES: The primary purpose of this study was to compare the relative bioavailability and other pharmacokinetics of rufinamide administered as a 400-mg tablet formulation (reference) with 10 mL of a newly developed 40-mg/mL suspension (test) manufactured using 3 different homogenization speeds in healthy subjects under fed conditions. The study also explored whether homogenization speed had any effect on rufinamide pharmacokinetics when administered as a suspension formulation. METHODS: This was a randomized, open-label, crossover, single-dose study in healthy, fed subjects aged 18 to 55 years (inclusive), conducted at a single center in the United Kingdom. Subjects were randomized to 1 of 4 treatment sequences, with each sequence consisting of 4 treatment periods. In each treatment period, subjects received a single dose of either the reference product (400-mg rufinamide tablet) or the test product (10 mL of rufinamide suspension [40 mg/mL] manufactured using 3 different homogenization speeds [1800, 2100, and 3000 revolutions per minute (rpm)]). Serial blood samples were collected for 72 hours after dosing for the measurement of rufinamide in plasma. Primary comparisons between test (suspension) and reference (tablet) formulations focused on AUC from 0 to 72 hours (AUC(0-72 h)) and C(max). The formulations were considered bioequivalent if the ratios of geometric least squares means and associated 90% CIs of AUC(0-72 h) and C(max) were within the predetermined range of 80%-125%, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) requirements. Tolerability was assessed by subject interviews, physical examinations, and laboratory tests. RESULTS: Twenty-four healthy subjects were randomized: 8 were male and 16 were female; 22 white, 1 black, and 1 Asian subjects were enrolled. Mean (SD) age was 29.8 (10.0) years. Mean weight was 68.2 (11.0) kg, and mean body mass index was 23.6 (3.0) kg/m(2). Twenty-one subjects completed the study; 2 subjects discontinued because of adverse events (both urinary tract infections considered unrelated to treatment) and 1 because of protocol deviation. The 72-hour pharmacokinetic data for the last complete treatment period before discontinuation were included in group means. The geometric least squares mean C(max) value for the reference tablet formulation was 4840.24 ng/mL; and 4254.87, 4204.29, and 4418.44 ng/mL for the 1800-, 2100-, and 3000-rpm test suspensions, respectively. The ratios of the geometric least squares mean values (test/reference) for C(max) were 0.88 (90% CI, 0.84-0.92), 0.87 (0.83-0.91) and 0.91 (0.88-0.95) for the 1800-, 2100-, and 3000-rpm suspensions, respectively, compared with the tablet formulation. The geometric least squares mean AUC(0-72 h) values were 75,960.48 ng · h/mL for the tablet formulation and 74,279.02, 73,746.03, and 73,701.17 ng · h/mL for the 1800-, 2100-, and 3000-rpm suspensions, respectively. The ratios of the geometric least squares mean values (test/reference) for AUC(0-72 h) were 0.98 (90% CI, 0.95-1.00), 0.97 (0.95-1.00) and 0.97 (0.95-0.99) for the 1800-, 2100-, and 3000-rpm suspensions, respectively, compared with the tablet formulation. The ratios and associated 90% CI limits (for test suspensions to the reference tablet) for AUC(0-72 h) and C(max) were within the FDA and EMA criteria for assuming bioequivalence to the 400 mg tablet. Comparisons among the 3 rufinamide test suspensions also met the regulatory criteria for assuming bioequivalence to one another. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were experienced by 18.2% (4/22) of subjects treated with the 400-mg tablet, 21.7% (5/23) of subjects treated with the 1800-rpm suspension, 26.1% (6/23) of subjects treated with the 2100-rpm suspension, and 8.7% (2/23) of subjects treated with the 3000-rpm suspension. Overall, 54.2% (13/24) of subjects experienced a TEAE; all TEAEs were mild or moderate in severity, with headache being the most frequently reported (37.5% [9/24]). There were no serious adverse events or deaths. CONCLUSION: This single-dose study in a small population of fed, healthy subjects found no statistically significant differences in relative bioavailability among each of the 3 test suspensions and the currently marketed 400-mg tablet formulation of rufinamide, meeting FDA and EMA regulatory requirements for assuming bioequivalence.

Continuous dopaminergic stimulation reduces risk of motor complications in parkinsonian primates.

Levodopa or short-acting dopamine (DA) agonist treatment of advanced parkinsonian patients exposes striatal DA receptors to non-physiologic intermittent stimulation that contributes to the development of dyskinesias and other motor complications. To determine whether continuous dopaminergic stimulation can delay or prevent onset of motor complications, four MPTP-lesioned, levodopa-naive cynomolgus monkeys were implanted subcutaneously with apomorphine containing ethylene vinyl acetate rods. Three other MPTP-lesioned monkeys received daily injections of apomorphine. Animals receiving apomorphine rods showed improved motor function ('ON' state) within 1 day of implantation, and remained continually 'ON' for the duration of treatment (up to 6 months) without developing dyskinesias. Injected animals also showed similar improvement in motor function after each apomorphine injection. However, these primates remained 'ON' for only 90 min and within 7-10 days all developed severe dyskinesias. Implanted monkeys evidenced local irritation, which was alleviated by steroid co-therapy.

Effects of serotonin 5-HT1A agonist in advanced Parkinson's disease.

Intermittent stimulation of striatal dopaminergic receptors seems to contribute to motor dysfunction in advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). With severe dopaminergic denervation, exogenous levodopa is largely decarboxylated to dopamine in serotonergic terminals. If 5-HT1A autoreceptors regulate dopamine as well as serotonin release, in parkinsonian patients inhibition of striatal serotonergic neuron firing might help maintain more physiological intrasynaptic dopamine concentrations and thus ameliorate motor fluctuations and dyskinesias. To evaluate this hypothesis, effects of a selective 5-HT1A agonist, sarizotan, given orally at 2 and 5 mg twice daily to 18 relatively advanced parkinsonian patients, were compared with baseline placebo function during a 3-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, proof-of-concept study. Sarizotan alone or with intravenous levodopa had no effect on parkinsonian severity. But at safe and tolerable doses, sarizotan coadministration reduced levodopa-induced dyskinesias and prolonged its antiparkinsonian response (P < or = 0.05). Under the conditions of this study, our findings suggest that 5-HT1A receptor stimulation in levodopa-treated parkinsonian patients can modulate striatal dopaminergic function and that 5-HT1A agonists may be useful as levodopa adjuvants in the treatment of PD.

Quetiapine attenuates levodopa-induced motor complications in rodent and primate parkinsonian models.

The contribution of serotoninergic mechanisms to motor dysfunction in Parkinson's disease (PD) has yet to be fully elucidated. Recent clinical observations increasingly suggest that drugs able to block serotonin 5HT2A/C receptors can benefit patients with certain extrapyramidal movement disorders. To further explore the roles of these and other neurotransmitter receptors in the pathogenesis of parkinsonian signs and levodopa-induced dyskinesias; we evaluated the effects of quetiapine, an atypical antipsychotic with 5HT2A/C and D2/3 antagonistic activity, on motor behavior in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats and MPTP-lesioned nonhuman primates. In hemiparkinsonian rats, quetiapine (5 mg/kg, po) reversed the shortened motor response to levodopa challenge produced by 3 weeks of twice-daily levodopa treatment (P < 0.01). Quetiapine (5 mg/kg po) also normalized the shortened response to the acute injection of either a dopamine D1 receptor agonist (SKF 38392) or a D2 agonist (quinpirole) in rats that had received chronic levodopa treatment. Quetiapine had no effect on parkinsonian dysfunction when given alone or with levodopa to parkinsonian rats and monkeys. Quetiapine (4 mg/kg, po) did, however, substantially reduce levodopa-induced dyskinesias when coadministered with levodopa (P < 0.05). These results suggest that quetiapine could confer therapeutic benefits to patients with levodopa-induced motor complications. Moreover, our findings may indicate that 5HT2A/C receptor-mediated mechanisms, alone or in combination with other mechanisms, contribute to the pathogenesis of the altered motor responses associated with the treatment of PD.