New drug for Parkinson’s to launch soon

A new drug claims to remove the need for surgery for treating Parkinson's disease.

Apomorphine is said to stimulate the production of dopamine by nerve cells in the brain, providing quick and effective relief to patients and improving their quality of life. Apomorphine, available as injections and infusion pumps, has been popular in the West for over 15 years for managing Parkinson's disease and will be introduced to Indian patients in the coming days. The drug is manufactured by UK-based company Britannia Pharmaceuticals.

Dr Prashanth L K, Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Specialist, Vikram Hospitals, said Indian patients of Parkinson's disease had only two options at present: oral treatment for early stages of the disease or the expensive Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery for advanced stages. "There was no treatment for the middle stages of the disease and most patients in India cannot afford DBS. This procedure is also not a choice for all ages or stages of Parkinson's disease. Apomorphine is recommended for patients who have started to have motor fluctuations," he added.

According to Dr Prashanth, introducing apomorphine in India has given an important medical option to doctors for the middle stages of Parkinson's disease.

He said rising life expectancy would lead to an increase in age-related diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that by 2030, India and China will bear the burden of age-related diseases which would increase by 330%.