STADA Brings Innovative Drug for Treatment of Advanced Parkinson's Disease to Czech Republic
STADA PHARMA CZ is introducing a new system for continuous delivery of 3 active substances for the treatment of advanced stages of Parkinson's disease (PD) to the Czech market. It is one of the major innovations in the care of PD patients in the last two decades. The drug, which STADA acquired the rights to in 2020, had already been introduced in the Nordic countries where this treatment is successfully underway. In the Czech Republic, it has been fully covered since April 1, 2022.
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A More Comfortable System to Improve Patients' Quality of Life
The combination of three established active substances – levodopa, carbidopa, and entacapone – in the form of an intestinal gel (LECIG) allows for the optimization of the bioavailability of levodopa in the body. LECIG is used to treat advanced stages of Parkinson's disease with severe motor fluctuations and hyperkinesia or dyskinesia when available oral combinations do not yield satisfactory treatment results.
This is an infusion therapy administered via a modern discrete, lightweight, and portable pump through a tube into the small intestine. The pump has an intuitive and user-friendly interface and long battery life. Healthcare professionals can program several flow rates to suit different patients' needs. The pump can be safely disconnected, and patients can even bathe, shower, or swim if their overall condition permits. This offers them flexibility, the ability to plan and manage their daily lives, and stay active as long as possible.
Continuous Stimulation Reduces Extreme Mobility Fluctuations
Approximately 170,000 people in the Czech Republic currently suffer from Parkinson's disease, with an estimated 3,500 in the advanced stage that practically prevents them from performing everyday activities. These patients could sooner or later potentially be treated with continuous dopaminergic stimulation, i.e., continuous administration of the active substance directly to the absorption site. During this treatment, healthy and normal dopamine release is simulated, and the drug level in the blood stabilizes. Thus, the patient does not experience extreme mobility fluctuations, as would be the case with tablet treatment.
“With this innovative drug we demonstrate that we are a partner for patients and professional caregivers not only in the field of generic medications but also in the rapidly growing segment of specialty medications. I am very pleased that we can be the first in the Czech Republic to offer a new product with modern pump technology that can significantly improve the quality of life for patients with Parkinson's disease. This product is a strategically important addition to STADA's portfolio, through which we intensify our engagement in neurology and leverage our previous experience,” notes Tomáš Mihál, Director of STADA in the Czech Republic.
STADA already has extensive experience with the injectable and infusion treatment of Parkinson's disease using apomorphine.
About STADA
STADA Arzneimittel AG is headquartered in Bad Vilbel, Germany. It sells its products in approximately 120 countries worldwide. For the financial year 2020, the STADA Group achieved net sales of EUR 3,010.3 million and EBITDA of EUR 713.3 million. As of December 31, 2020, the group had 12,300 employees worldwide.
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Source: STADA brings its innovative drug for the treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease to the Czech Republic. Press release. STADA PHARMA CZ, March 7, 2022.
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