Pharmacokinetic drug evaluation of safinamide mesylate for the treatment of mid-to-late stage Parkinson’s disease

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Patients with Parkinson’s disease suffer from a heterogeneous expression of neurotransmitter deficits. They cause an individual variable expression of motor and non-motor symptoms. Thus, drugs with various mechanisms of actions are suitable to counteract these disease related neurotransmitter alterations.

Areas covered: This invited review suggests safinamide as an ideal compound for therapy of Parkinson’s disease, as its pharmacological profile includes reversible monoamine oxidase B inhibition, blockage of voltage-dependent sodium channels, modulation of calcium channels and abnormal glutamate release. Safinamide may provide benefits effects on non-motor symptoms in addition to the demonstrated amelioration of motor impairment in levodopa treated patients with Parkinson’s disease. Safinamide was well tolerated and safe when administered in dose of 50 or 100 mg daily in pivotal trials.

Expert opinion: Clinical handling, safety and tolerability of Safinamide are better than of dopamine agonists or levodopa. Safinamide supplements the existing armamentarium of drugs for Parkinson’s disease. Safinamide will help to reduce dosing of levodopa but also of dopamine agonists during long term treatment in patients with Parkinson’s disease.

KEYWORDS:

• Safinamide
• MAO-B inhibition
• glutamate release inhibition
• Parkinson’s disease
• dopamine substitution
• glutamate

Declaration of interest

Thomas Muller has participated in the trials on safinamide as principle investigator and has given advice to safinamide developing pharmaceutical companies. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest if financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded