XADAGO® (SAFINAMIDE) NOW AVAILABLE IN THE U.S. FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE PATIENTS

  • XADAGO (safinamide) is a once-daily tablet for Parkinson's disease patients as an add-on to levodopa/carbidopa who are experiencing "off" episodes, providing "on" time without troublesome dyskinesia [involuntary movements].
  • XADAGO is the first New Chemical Entity (NCE) approved in the U.S. for motor fluctuations in Parkinson's disease in more than a decade.
  • US WorldMeds has licensed XADAGO for U.S. distribution from Zambon, a pharmaceutical company based in Milan. XADAGO has been available since 2015 in the EU and is now sold in 12 countries.

MILAN, Italy and LOUISVILLE, Ky. - July 11, 2017 - Alliance partners Newron Pharmaceuticals S.p.A. and Zambon S.p.A. based in Milan, and Louisville-based US WorldMeds announced today that XADAGO (safinamide) is now available as an add-on therapy for U.S. patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) currently taking levodopa/carbidopa and experiencing "off" episodes. It is not known if XADAGO is effective to treat PD when taken as a single medicine (monotherapy). XADAGO, a once-daily tablet, is the first New Chemical Entity approved in the U.S. for PD-related motor fluctuations in more than a decade for the estimated 1 million patients currently affected by PD.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), an "off" episode is a time when a patient's medications are not working well, causing an increase in Parkinson's symptoms, such as tremor and difficulty walking. XADAGO is an inhibitor of monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B). Inhibition of MAO-B activity, by blocking the breakdown of dopamine, is thought to result in an increase in dopamine levels and a subsequent increase in dopaminergic activity in the brain.

Dr. Stuart Isaacson, MD, Director Boca Raton Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders commented: "The approval of XADAGO offers an important new treatment option for the Parkinson's community. XADAGO is the first New Chemical Entity approved for the treatment of PD-related motor fluctuations in the U.S. in over a decade. In clinical trials, patients on once-daily XADAGO demonstrated significant improvement in 'on' time without troublesome dyskinesia."

The efficacy of XADAGO was shown in clinical trials with over 1100 PD patients who were taking levodopa/carbidopa and experiencing "off" time. Those receiving XADAGO experienced more beneficial "on" time, a time when Parkinson's symptoms are reduced, without troublesome dyskinesia, compared to those receiving a placebo. The increase in "on" time was accompanied by a reduction in "off" time and better scores on a physician-assessed measure of motor function performed during "on" time than before treatment.

"We are very excited to be launching XADAGO," said P. Breckinridge ("Breck") Jones, CEO of US WorldMeds. "Part of US WorldMeds' mission is to develop and market meaningful and accessible healthcare products that improve lives and result in a thriving community of patients. We are confident that XADAGO will progress that mission by providing a new treatment option to Parkinson's patients."

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved XADAGO, which is under license from Zambon S.p.A, a multinational specialty pharmaceutical company based in Milan. XADAGO has been available since 2015 in the EU and is now sold in 12 countries.

"Zambon is proud to announce the U.S. market launch of XADAGO by our partner US WorldMeds, whose experience and commitment to Parkinson's disease will bring value to patients in need of new treatment options," said Roberto Tascione, CEO of Zambon.

US WorldMeds has licensed XADAGO from partner Zambon for distribution in the U.S. and partnered with Newron Pharmaceuticals S.p.A ("Newron", SIX: NWRN), a biopharmaceutical company focused on development of novel therapies for patients with diseases of the central nervous system and pain.

Stefan Weber, CEO of Newron Pharmaceuticals said: "We are proud to seeXADAGO become the first FDA approved new chemical entity for Parkinson's disease in more than 10 years. We believe XADAGO has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life of PD patients in the U.S., as it already has in many other countries around the world."


Press Release (PDF)



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