Joaquim Ferreira, MD, PhD

“The magnitude [of effect] was really important, and the other aspect that is very important in practical and clinical terms is that opicapone is once daily while entacapone is one pill added to each levodopa dose.”

, September 12–16, 2020, data were presented on opicapone (Ongentys; Neurocrine Biosciences) from an exploratory post-hoc analysis of the BIPARK I and II trials (NCT01568073 and NCT01227655). Overall, the data offered evidence that the once-daily agent can be a viable first-line adjunctive option for patients with Parkinson disease who experience motor fluctuations despite treatment with levodopa.

Presented by Joaquim J. Ferreira, MD, PhD, and colleagues, the data included a cohort of 68 patients administered the oral, selective catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor and compared them with 59 individuals who were administered placebo, all of whom were only treated with levodopa. In BIPARK I, the agent was also compared to entacapone (Comtan; Novartis).

The least-squares mean reduction from baseline in absolute OFF time was 109.2 minutes (95% CI, –147.9 to –70.4) for the opicapone group compared to 40.3 minutes (95% CI, –80.7 to 0) for the placebo group, an absolute difference of 68.8 minutes (95% CI, –124.8 to –12.8). Similarly, the least-squares mean increase in absolute ON time from baseline was 96.7 minutes (95% CI, 58.1–135.3) for the opicapone group, while the placebo group experienced a gain of 16.9 minutes (95% CI, –23.3 to 57.0). The absolute difference between groups was 79.8 minutes (95% CI, 24.3–135.4).

Ferreira, who is a professor of neurology and clinical pharmacology, and head of the Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics at the University of Lisbon, spoke with 

in an interview to discuss the data and offer his perspective on what the clinical community should be aware of with regard to their analyses.

REFERENCE
Ferreira J, Poewe W, Antonini A, et al. Opicapone as First-Line Adjunctive Levodopa Treatment in Parkinson's Disease Patients with Motor Fluctuations: Findings from BIPARK-I and II Combined Post-Hoc Analysis. Presented at: MDS Virtual Congress; September 12–16, 2020. Abstract 999.

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The head of the Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics at the University of Lisbon gave his perspective on the importance of the study population of this analysis.

Joaquim Ferreira, MD, PhD: The Magnitude of Effect for Opicapone in Parkinson Disease

“Interestingly, the results are very similar with the results we had with the global population, even slightly better—meaning the magnitude of effect was slightly better than what we’d found for the global population. This is interesting because these patients are, probably, slightly less severe.”

, September 12–16, 2020, Joaquim J. Ferreira, MD, PhD, and colleagues presented data from an exploratory post-hoc analysis of the BIPARK I and II trials (NCT01568073 and NCT01227655) of opicapone (Ongetys; Neurocrine Biosciences). The data ultimately suggest that a 50-mg dose is viable as a first-line adjunctive treatment for motor fluctuations in patients with Parkinson disease who are being treated with levodopa.

The assessment included 68 patients given the once-daily, oral, selective catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor and 59 administered placebo, all of whom were only treated with levodopa. In total, the changes from baseline in absolute OFF and ON time were significantly greater for the opicapone group (OFF time 

To inquire further about the data and what the clinical community should know, 

 spoke with Ferreira, who is a professor of neurology and clinical pharmacology, and head of the Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics at the University of Lisbon. He offered his insight on the study findings and gave perspective on the importance of the study population of this analysis.

Author | Joaquim Ferreira, MD, PhD

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