The launch of opicapone for Parkinson's disease: negatives versus positives

Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2018 Mar;17(3):331-337. doi: 10.1080/14740338.2018.1433659.

Abstract

Opicapone is a novel, third generation COMT inhibitor approved for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Safety and tolerability data is critical to determine the benefit-harm balance and anticipate therapeutic adherence. Areas covered: This review evaluates the tolerability and safety profile of opicapone. These data were extracted from all published clinical trials, including preclinical, phase I, phase II and phase III studies as well as postmarketing data. Opicapone was safe and well tolerated, with frequencies of treatment-emergent adverse events similar to placebo. Expert opinion: Opicapone have shown a good safety and tolerability profile. This adds to its proven efficacy and convenient once-daily administration, supporting a role of opicapone as a first-line therapy for motor complications in Parkinson's disease patients.

Keywords: COMT inhibitors; Opicapone; Parkinson’s disease; safety; tolerability.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiparkinson Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antiparkinson Agents / adverse effects
  • Antiparkinson Agents / pharmacology
  • Catechol O-Methyltransferase Inhibitors / administration & dosage*
  • Catechol O-Methyltransferase Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Catechol O-Methyltransferase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Humans
  • Oxadiazoles / administration & dosage*
  • Oxadiazoles / adverse effects
  • Oxadiazoles / pharmacology
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Antiparkinson Agents
  • Catechol O-Methyltransferase Inhibitors
  • Oxadiazoles
  • opicapone