NPS August Radar
August 13, 2012
THIS Month’s NPS Radar reviews
rasagiline (Azilect) for Parkinson’s
disease, as well as the PRODIGY study.
Rasagiline is a new monoamine
oxidase type-B inhibitor to treat
symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
“Rasagiline may be suitable for
people presenting with less severe
Parkinson’s disease symptoms or
levodopa-associated motor
complications and is an option for
people when side effects restrict
the use or dopamine agonists or
entacapone,” said NPS clinical
adviser Dr Philippa Binns.
The drug however, according to
Binns, may not be suitable for
people already on antidepressants,
and in instances where this is a
possibility, Binns recommends
specialist advice be sought.
Meanwhile Binns also used Radar
to comment on the PRODIGY study
which reviewed the duration of
dual antiplatelet therapy.
“The study highlights the need for
a review of dual antiplatelet
therapy at 12 months,” she said.
“For most people the benefit of
treatment beyond this period may
not be sufficient to offset the risk of
a major bleed,” she added.
The latest edition of Radar also
includes info on PBS listing changes
to synthetic infant formulas for
protein intolerances; as well as info
relating to the bone mineral density
T-score cut-off changed in the
demosumab osteoporosis PBS listing.
See www.nps.org.au/radar.
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