BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology [2013] 14 (1) : 24 (U.E.Gasser, A.Fischer, J.P.Timmermans, I.Arnet)
Madopar was compared against seven generic versions of Madopar to see if they were as good as Madopar. Madopar, which is for the treatment of Parkinson's Disease consists of L-dopa and benserazide, which helps to prevent the breakdown of L-dopa before it is made use of. It is therefore the equivalent of Sinemet. Madopar and Sinemet differ according to which countries they are available in. For more information go to Madopar. A generic version is supposed to be interchangeable. However, generic versions are often different from the original.
Every one of the seven generic versions of Madopar had one or two parameters outside the specifications of Madopar. Deviations for the active ingredients ranged from 8% more benserazide to 7% less L-dopa in two of the tablet formulations. Degradation products were measured in marked excess (26% more) in one capsule formulation, and so could pose a safety concern. Deviations for the active ingredients may go unnoticed by a new user of the generic product but may entail clinical consequences when switching over. The results therefore suggest caution when prescribing a generic version of Madopar or any other generic. 
The association of Parkinson's Disease and head trauma was 1.57 (1.35-1.83), meaning that head trauma causing concussion makes Parkinson's Disease more than one and half times more likely. So although head trauma makes Parkinson's Disease more likely it is not inevitable. Further analysis of the results might have shown that very severe head injury or certain types of head injury were largely responsible for the increased likelihood of Parkinson's Disease following head trauma.
For many years it has been widely claimed that, in Parkinson's Disease, there is a huge loss of the dopaminergic neurons (the brain cells that produce dopamine). It is often claimed that this cell loss is the primary cause of Parkinson's Disease. However, not a single study had ever actually shown that there was massive cell loss in Parkinson's Disease. It has also been assumed that loss of the dopaminergic neurons that can cause Parkinson's Disease precedes the loss of cholinergic neurons, which can lead to dementia, as is common in later Parkinson's Disease. However, the results of a study assessing this theory did not support what had often been claimed.
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Inhaled doses were gradually increased until efficacy was reached and given to patients when they were in an 'off' state. When it was inhaled, apomorphine was rapidly absorbed, within 2 to 7 minutes. This enabled a reversal from the 'off' state, in just 10 minutes. In contrast many people with Parkinson's Disease have to wait 30 to 60 minutes for their Parkinson's Disease drugs to have effect. Therefore, speed of effect appears to be its greatest benefit. Adverse effects did not differ between those taking inhaled apomorphine and those taking a placebo.
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People with Parkinson's Disease were given two forms of ODM-101 with two different amounts of carbidopa : ODM-101/65mg and ODM-101/105mg. Both of them reduced daily OFF-time more than Stalevo. ODM-101/105mg was marginally better than ODM-101/65mg. Similarly, both ODM-101 combinations increased the ON-time without troublesome dyskinesia significantly more than Stalevo. There were no significant differences between the treatments in ON-time with troublesome dyskinesia or in UPDRS II and III symptom scores. Overall, tolerability and safety of ODM-101 was comparable to that of Stalevo.
Patients took 40mg Pimavanserin for only six weeks. So its long term effects have not been assessed. The adverse events were little different from those found in people taking a placebo. Pimavanserin demonstrated significant antipsychotic efficacy and significant improvements in all secondary efficacy measures. Statistically significant benefits were also observed in exploratory measures of nighttime sleep, daytime wakefulness, and caregiver burden.
Underweight and malnutrition are well documented in Parkinson's Disease (PD), while being overweight has been less reported. Researchers carried out a study comparing the weight and height of people with and without Parkinson's Disease. In those people with Parkinson's Disease only 1% were underweight, 33% were within the normal range, 47%% were overweight, and 19% were obese. Being normal weight and overweight were more prevalent in those people who had Parkinson's Disease when compared to those people who did not. Being obese and, even moreso, being underweight were more common in those people who did not have Parkinsons' Disease.
NeuroDerm announced today the results of a Phase I safety and pharmacokinetic trial of ND0612. ND0612 is a novel drug formulation for the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease. NeuroDerm is a pharmaceutical company that specializes in the development of novel dermal delivery routes for CNS drugs. 
