FDA Approves Neurocrine Biosciences' Parkinson's Drug

Neurocrine Biosciences (NASDAQ: NBIX) announced Monday that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ongentys (opicapone), a daily pill for Parkinson's disease.

Ongentys is an add-on treatment for Parkinson's patients who are currently taking the main first-line treatment, levodopa (L-Dopa), combined with carbidopa to moderate side effects. As the disease progresses, some patients experience more frequent episodes of  motor-function issues between their levodopa treatments. Ongentys is a COMT inhibitor, a drug that blocks the enzyme that breaks down levodopa, therefore prolonging its clinical effects during those "off times."

Image source: Getty Images.

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Source Fool.com