Apokyn (Apomorphine Hydrochloride) - Summary

APOKYN SUMMARY

APOKYN™ (apomorphine hydrochloride, USP) is a non-ergoline dopamine agonist.

APOKYN™ (apomorphine hydrochloride injection) is indicated for the acute, intermittent treatment of hypomobility, "off" episodes ("end-of-dose wearing off" and unpredictable "on/off" episodes) associated with advanced Parkinson's disease. APOKYN has been studied as an adjunct to other medications (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Clinical Trials).

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NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Media Articles Related to Apokyn (Apomorphine)

Hope For Possible Parkinson's Disease Cure From ISU Researchers' Findings
Source: Seniors / Aging News From Medical News Today [2009.11.04]
Researchers at Iowa State University have found an essential key to possibly cure Parkinson's disease and are looking for others. Anumantha Kanthasamy, a distinguished professor of biomedical sciences and W. Eugene and Linda R. Lloyd Endowed Chair in Neurotoxicology at the ISU College of Veterinary Medicine, has been working to understand the complex mechanisms of the disease for more than a decade and thinks he has found hope for the cure.

Less Invasive Stereotactic Radiosurgery As Effective In Eliminating Parkinson's Disease Tremors As Other Treatments
Source: Medical Devices / Diagnostics News From Medical News Today [2009.11.03]
Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) offers a less invasive way to eliminate tremors caused by Parkinson's disease and essential tremor than deep brain stimulation (DBS) and radiofrequency (RF) treatments, and is as effective, according to a long-term study presented November 2, 2009, at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

Progression Of Parkinson's Disease May Be Prevented By Widely Used Cholesterol-Lowering Drug
Source: Statins News From Medical News Today [2009.10.31]
Simvastatin, a commonly used, cholesterol-lowering drug, may prevent Parkinson's disease from progressing further. Neurological researchers at Rush University Medical Center conducted a study examining the use of the FDA-approved medication in mice with Parkinson's disease and found that the drug successfully reverses the biochemical, cellular and anatomical changes caused by the disease.

Avian Influenza Strain Primes Brain For Parkinson's Disease
Source: Bird Flu / Avian Flu News From Medical News Today [2009.08.11]
At least one strain of the H5N1 avian influenza virus leaves survivors at significantly increased risk for Parkinson's disease and possibly other neurological problems later in life, according to new research from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Parkinson's Disease
Source: MedicineNet Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Specialty [2009.04.28]
Title: Parkinson's Disease
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 12/31/1997
Last Editorial Review: 4/28/2009

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Published Studies Related to Apokyn (Apomorphine)

Comparison of apomorphine and levodopa infusions in four patients with Parkinson's disease with symptom fluctuations. [2009.05]
BACKGROUND: Motor fluctuations in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease may be successfully treated with subcutaneous apomorphine infusion or intraduodenal levodopa/carbidopa infusion. No comparative trials of these two alternatives were performed. AIMS OF THE STUDY: We present a subanalysis from a randomized crossover clinical trial where levodopa infusion as monotherapy was compared with any other combination of pharmacotherapy in fluctuating patients. Four patients used apomorphine infusion and oral levodopa in the comparator arm. The results of these four patients are presented in detail... CONCLUSIONS: Monotherapy with duodenal infusion of levodopa was more efficacious and brought greater QoL than combination therapy with apomorphine infusion in these fluctuating patients.

Apomorphine nodules in Parkinson's disease: best practice considerations. [2008.10]
Apomorphine hydrochloride infusion therapy is used by approximately 1000 people with advanced Parkinson's disease in the UK (Britannia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, 2008).

Comparative cross-over study of sildenafil and apomorphine for treating erectile dysfunction. [2008.09]
OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness, safety and tolerability of sildenafil and apomorphine in Brazilian patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) of various causes... CONCLUSIONS: Sildenafil is more effective than apomorphine for treating ED, in the domains of erectile function, satisfaction with sexual intercourse and overall satisfaction, and was the drug preferred by most of the patients.

Apomorphine for the acute treatment of "off" episodes in Parkinson's disease. [2008.03]
Many patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) experience motor complications, which negatively impact quality of life, despite optimized oral therapy.

Effect of low concentrations of apomorphine on parkinsonism in a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study. [2008.02]
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether low concentrations of a dopamine agonist worsen parkinsonism, which would suggest that activation of presynaptic dopamine autoreceptors causes a super-off state... CONCLUSIONS: Subthreshold concentrations of apomorphine did not worsen parkinsonism, suggesting that presynaptic dopamine autoreceptors are not important to the motor response in moderate to advanced Parkinson disease. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00472355.

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Clinical Trials Related to Apokyn (Apomorphine)

Safety/Efficacy of Tigan® to Control Nausea/Vomiting Experienced During Apokyn® Initiation and Treatment [Active, not recruiting]
The purposes of the study are to determine:

i. The rate of Apokyn®-related nausea and vomiting in subjects treated with oral Tigan® compared to those treated with oral placebo (inactive substance).

ii. The need for continued use of Tigan® for control of nausea and vomiting with on-going Apokyn® treatment for up to 12 weeks

iii. Possible side effects of Tigan® when used in combination with Apokyn® in subjects with Parkinson's Disease

iv. If Tigan® slows or hastens the body's metabolism (clearance) of Apokyn®.

Comparison of Continuous and Pulsatile Apomorphine in Parkinson's Disease [Recruiting]
The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of apomorphine, given by two different methods, to determine how best to manage dyskinesias.

Continued Efficacy and Safety of Apomorphine in Patients With Late-Stage Parkinsons Disease [Completed]

Relationship Between D2 Receptors SPECT and the Apomorphine Test in Patients With OH Dependence (ALC-DRD2-APO) [Recruiting]
OH dependence is associated with DA receptor changes. Both, the apomorphine test and the D2Rec SPECt are usefull for monitoring DA receptor status. We aimed at studying whether DA receptor hypofunction, assessed by means of the apomorphine test and the D2Rec SPECT, is a marker of relapse in detoxified OH dependents patients.

Apomorphine Effect on Nociceptive Perception in Parkinson's: a Clinical and Imaging Study [Completed]
Patients suffering from Parkinson's disease (PD) frequently experienced painful sensations. We suppose that painful symptoms could be related to the neurotransmitter deficit of PD. So, we would like to evaluate the involvement of dopaminergic system in nociceptive processing in PD patients. The objectives of this study is to assess and to compare the effect of a dopamine agonist administration on the nociceptive threshold and on the cerebral activity using positrons emission tomography (PET scan) in two groups of PD patients (in 16 painful PD patients and in 16 pain free PD patients). We hypothesise that dopamine agonist could normalise nociceptive threshold and cerebral activity which were both abnormal in PD patients. Moreover, we think that painful PD patients could be more improved by dopamine agonist than pain free PD patients.

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