Launch of the non-ergot-dopamine agonist Piribedil (CLARIUM^®) in Germany

Various medicines are available for medicamentous treatment of Parkinson’s syndrome. In addition to the dopamine precursor Levodopa (L-Dopa) dopamine agonists are especially of high significance. The substances currently found on the market, however, differ both with regard to their spectrum of effect and their side-effect profile. The active substance Piribedil is assigned to the group of so-called non-ergot dopamine agonists and is authorized for the treatment of early and advanced stage Parkinson’s disease in both mono- as well as combination therapy with L-Dopa. The substance is characterized by a high and specific affinity to the D2 and D3 dopamine receptors as well as an antagonistic effect on the á2A- + -C-adrenergic receptors of the CNS. Within the cadre of the two most important approval-relevant clinical studies (CONTROL and REGAIN study), potent efficacy, comparable with other dopamine agonists, against all essential motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease could be proven for Piribedil in monotherapy and in combination therapy with L-Dopa. On 15th November 2007 Piribedil was introduced in Germany by the company Desitin Arzneimittel GmbH, Hamburg, under the trade name CLARIUM®. CLARIUM® is obtainable as a single dose in the form of 50 mg prolonged-release tablets. When Piribedil (CLARIUM®) was launched the corporation organized a press conference in Paris in October 2007. In an exclusive interview with NeuroNews.de, Professor Dr Wolfgang Jost, German Diagnostic Clinic, Wiesbaden, responded to questions about the new dopamine agonist with its unique receptor profile.