The speakers review newer adjunctive therapies for managing motor fluctuations in Parkinson’s disease, including dopamine agonists, apomorphine infusion pumps, and the catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors, which helps prolong levodopa’s activity. They also emphasize the value of incorporating on-demand therapies alongside adjunctive medications to optimize symptom control and reduce “off” time.
The speakers discuss the safety concerns associated with currently available dopamine agonists for Parkinson’s disease, including impulse control disorders, sleep attacks, and peripheral edema, which have contributed to decreased use over the past decade. They also highlight ongoing research into newer, third-generation dopamine agonists that may provide improved efficacy and fewer side effects.
A panelist discusses how tavapadon’s D1/D5 receptor selectivity may offer potential benefits such as improved motor symptom control with a reduced risk of adverse effects commonly associated with traditional dopamine agonists.
The speakers review results from the TEMPO 1, 2, and 3 trials demonstrating that tavapadon improves motor symptoms as both monotherapy and adjunctive therapy in Parkinson’s disease. The drug may increase “on” time, reduce “off” time and dyskinesia, and potentially lessen the need for higher levodopa doses that contribute to motor fluctuations.
The speakers discuss IPX203, an extended-release carbidopa/levodopa formulation that provides more continuous levodopa delivery through a combination of immediate and sustained intestinal release. In the RISE-PD study, IPX203 increased “on” time, reduced “off” time and dyskinesia, and required fewer daily doses compared with immediate-release carbidopa/levodopa.
The speakers review several emerging therapies under investigation for Parkinson’s disease, including gene therapy, stem cell transplantation, and antibody treatments targeting alpha-synuclein. These advances, along with new symptomatic and disease-modifying approaches, highlight the rapidly evolving treatment landscape and growing hope for improved outcomes for patients.
