Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s and affects more than 10 million people worldwide, according to data from the Spanish Society of Neurology (SEN), which indicates that there are more than 160,000 people in Spain. with Parkinson’s. Although the majority of those affected are over 65, it is estimated that 15% of cases occur in those under 50 years of age. Furthermore, as a result of the progressive aging of the population, its prevalence and incidence are expected to double in 2030.
Now, the pharmaceutical company Italfarmaco makes a new treatment available to patients with advanced Parkinson’s in Spain, APO-go POD 5 mg/ml, an apomorphine solution for infusion in a cartridge, indicated for the treatment of motor fluctuations in patients with Parkinson’s disease that are not sufficiently controlled by the usual oral anti-Parkinsonian medication.
The new APO-go POD is designed to promote patient autonomy. It comes in 20 ml cartridges ready to be used without having to handle the medication, offering faster and easier preparation for both the patient and the caregiver.
“In advanced Parkinson’s disease, it is necessary to personalize the therapeutic approach and the new APO-go provides better optimization of treatment and facilitates patient independence when administering it”
In a statement from the laboratory itself, Andrew Lees, Professor of Neurology at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in Queen Square and University College London, pioneer in the introduction of continuous infusion of apomorphine into clinical practice in patients with Parkinson commented on this news: “In Parkinson’s disease the best therapeutic strategy is continuous dopaminergic stimulation. Advanced therapies offer similar data in the main clinical parameters of efficacy such as reduction in OFF time and increase in ON time without problematic dyskinesias. APO-go in continuous infusion, beyond its top-level scientific evidence and the ease of its new system, stands out for its extensive clinical experience, in daytime and 24-hour use. It is one of the least invasive advanced therapies, the simplest to establish and available in any hospital center.”
Silvia Jesús Maestre, specialist in Neurology at the Virgen del Rocío University Hospital in Seville and Member of the Spanish Movement Disorders Group of the Spanish Society of Neurology, added that: “In advanced Parkinson’s disease it is necessary to personalize the therapeutic approach by adapting to each patient the dosage of the dopaminergic medication, as well as the advanced therapy chosen. The new APO-go in continuous infusion provides better optimization of treatment, allowing the flow to be changed according to daily needs and, in addition, facilitates the independence of patients when administering. These advantages are valuable when opting for this advanced therapy since they enable greater adherence to it.”
The general director of Italfarmaco in Spain, Álvaro Acebron, emphasizes that “APO-go POD 5 mg/ml solution for infusion in cartridge represents an innovative advance in the treatment of advanced Parkinson’s disease.” Furthermore, he adds: “We are convinced that our extensive experience in the field of neurology will allow us to improve quality of life in the advanced stages of the disease, reaffirming our commitment focused on patients.”
