Exelon patch - an effective Alzheimer's disease medication

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A patch that delivers Exelon® (rivastigmine transdermal), an effective Alzheimer's disease medication - the first time this technology has been applied to treat the disease in the European Union.

"Exelon patch offers unique therapeutic benefits because it maintains steady drug levels in the bloodstream, improves tolerability and allows a higher proportion of patients to receive therapeutic doses of medication. Coupled with the clear benefits for caregivers in terms of ease of administration, it represents a significant advance in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. We look forward to the time when this important new therapy will be available throughout the EU" said Alexander Kurz, MD, Professor of Psychiatry and Head of the Centre for Cognitive Disorders at the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.

A key attribute of Exelon patch is a sharp reduction in gastrointestinal side effects commonly seen with the oral forms of this class of drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors. In a clinical trial these side effects were greatly reduced, with three times fewer reports of nausea and vomiting than with the capsule form of the drug.

The results from the international IDEAL (Investigation of Transdermal Exelon in ALzheimer's disease) trial, which showed that patients receiving the Exelon patch demonstrated improved memory, overall functioning, and ability to perform everyday activities than those taking placebo. Exelon is the only cholinesterase inhibitor to be approved for both mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease dementia in both Europe and the US. The US Food and Drug Administration approved Exelon®Patch (rivastigmine transdermal system) on July 6 for the treatment of both mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease dementia.

Alzheimer's disease affects one in 10 people over the age of 65, making it the most common form of dementia and the third leading cause of death in this age group behind cardiovascular disease and cancer. The global direct costs of dementia were estimated at USD156 billion in 2003.

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