Rotigotine: A novel dopamine agonist for the transdermal treatment of Parkinson's disease

Rotigotine is a D3/D2/D1 dopamine agonist delivered through a silicone-based transdermal patch that is administered once daily. Pharmacokinetic data in humans have shown that steady-state plasma levels of rotigotine can be reached between 8 and 12 hours, and a stable drug release is maintained throughout the 24-hour patch application. Results of several clinical trials demonstrated that the rotigotine transdermal system is safe, well tolerated and effective monotherapy for patients in the early stages of Parkinson's disease. Rotigotine transdermal application also demonstrated the possibility of decreasing levodopa dosage in order to decrease its toxic effects in advanced Parkinson's disease. In addition, rotigotine has shown efficacy in the treatment of restless legs syndrome. Clinical studies on rotigotine, the first transdermally delivered dopamine agonist, are now in progress, and regulatory approval is expected in the near future.