Quebecers Living with Advanced Parkinson's Disease Now Have Broader Access to NEUPRO® (rotigotine) As Add-On Therapy

OAKVILLE, ON, June 13, 2018 /CNW/ - UCB Canada Inc. announced today that Quebecers now have publicly funded access (special authorization) to NEUPRO® (rotigotine) for the treatment of advanced stage Parkinson's Disease (APD), in combination with the drug levodopa. Although there is currently no cure for this neurodegenerative illness, medication can improve quality of life for those affected by it by helping to treat a number of debilitating symptoms including tremors, slow movement and stiffness.¹

It is estimated that more than 25,000 people live with Parkinson's in Quebec.²

"The fact that NEUPRO is now publicly funded by the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec is a great step forward for Quebecers living with Parkinson's who have not been able to access the treatment until now," says Danielle Blain, Regional Director, Parkinson Canada – Quebec. "As a disease that affects each person differently, those living with Parkinson's depend on timely access to treatment options that effectively manage their symptoms for longer periods of time and improve their day-to-day functioning."

According to Nicole Charpentier, Executive Director, Parkinson Quebec, people living with Parkinson's can continue to lead active and fulfilling lives if they are able to manage their symptoms. "For example, problems with balance in Parkinson patients can lead to falls, and problems with swallowing can cause pneumonia if left untreated. That's why Parkinson Quebec congratulates our provincial government for facilitating access to an important treatment option like NEUPRO," says Charpentier.

About NEUPRO³
Approved in Canada in 2013, NEUPRO is the first and only Parkinson's "patch" to wear on the skin. It provides 24-hour delivery of rotigotine, a dopamine agonist, through the skin into the bloodstream. NEUPRO has demonstrated efficacy in managing motor symptoms associated with APD. Its effectiveness in APD was evaluated in a multinational drug development program consisting of randomized double-blind placebo-controlled phase 3 trials. The two trials of NEUPRO in patients with APD examined change from baseline in "off" periods, when the effectiveness of medication wears off and PD symptoms return.  Statistically significant changes in off-times were observed in APD patients receiving NEUPRO compared to those on placebo.

"Improved access to NEUPRO in Quebec is welcome news for patients who can benefit from a treatment option that can provide sustained symptom control," says Dr. Sylvain Chouinard, neurologist and Co-Director of the André Barbeau Movement Disorders Unit at the Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM). "Not only can NEUPRO improve the day-to-day functional ability of patients with Parkinson's who are also taking levodopa, but the transdermal patch delivery reduces the burden of taking oral medication."

Important and complete safety information about NEUPRO can be found by accessing the product monograph.

About Parkinson's Disease^1,4
Parkinson's Disease (PD) is one of the common illnesses of the nervous system. It is mainly identified by a loss of the ability to move normally. These changes appear slowly and gradually become worse over time. The symptoms of PD include movement (motor) symptoms including tremors (uncontrollable shaking), rigidity (stiffness or muscle tensing) and bradykinesia (slowness and loss of spontaneous movement).  Parkinson's can progress at a different rate for each person. As symptoms change, medication will need to be adjusted. As the disease progresses, non-motor symptoms may also appear, such as depression, difficulty swallowing, sexual problems or cognitive changes.

For more information, please visit Parkinson Canada at www.parkinson.ca or Parkinson Quebec at www.parkinsonquebec.ca.

About UCB Canada Inc.
Inspired by patients and driven by science, UCB Canada Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people living with severe auto-immune and central nervous system diseases. For more information, please consult www.ucb.com/worldwide/canada.

References

^1	Understanding Parkinson's. Parkinson Canada. http://www.parkinson.ca/about-parkinsons/understanding-parkinsons Accessed April 3, 2018.
^2	Pistes de solutions pour améliorer la qualité de vie des personnes atteintes d'une maladie neurologique évolutive. Partenaires neuro maladies neurologiques évolutive. http://www.partenairesneuro.ca/pdf/memoire.pdf Accessed April 17, 2018.
^3	NEUPRO Product Monograph. https://www.ucb-canada.ca/en/Our-Medicines/overview Accessed April 3, 2018.
^4	Parkinson's Disease.  An Introduction Guide.  Parkinson's Canada. 2017. http://www.muhcpatienteducation.ca/DATA/GUIDE/313_en~v~parkinson-s-disease-pdf-.pdf Accessed April 3, 2018.

SOURCE UCB Canada Inc.

Arianne Éthier, Cohn & Wolfe, Tel: [phone], [email protected]; Ben Faienza, UCB Canada Inc., Tel: [phone], [email protected]