‘OFF’ episodes in Parkinson’s disease (PD) are a change in the clinical state of a patient where motor symptoms (including tremor, rigidity, slowness, incoordination and weakness) and/or non-motor symptoms (including psychological symptoms, pain, urinary problems, swallowing difficulties and shortness of breath) appear or worsen and result in functional disability. They can be a serious burden for patients and their effective management remains an unmet clinical need.

The information in this activity is intended for healthcare professionals involved in the treatment of patients with Parkinson’s disease.

This touchSYMPOSIUM HIGHLIGHTS was recorded live during the 14th International Conference on Alzheimer’s & Parkinson’s Diseases (AD/PD) in March 2019.

EXPERT PERSPECTIVES

Prof. Werner
Poewe
Prof. C Warren
Olanow
Prof. Olivier
Rascol
Prof. Fabrizio
Stocchi

PROFESSOR WERNER POEWE

  • Innsbruck Medical University
  • Innsbruck, Austria

Disclosures

Professor Poewe has received honoraria for CME, consultancy services, research grants, and/or promotional speaking on behalf of: AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Bial, Biogen, Biohaven, Britannia, Grüenthal, Intec, Ipsen, Lundbeck, Novartis, NeuroDerm, Orion Pharma, Oxford Biomedica, Prexton, Regenera, Roche, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc., Sun Pharma, Takeda, Teva, UCB, and Zambon.

Prof. Poewe is a paid consultant for and presented at the satellite symposium on behalf of Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. The views and opinions expressed are those of Prof. Poewe.

Overview

Professor Poewe discusses the phenomenology and clinical significance of ‘OFF’ episodes, the motor and non-motor symptoms, when they occur, their incidence, the development of dyskinesias and underlying mechanisms.

PROFESSOR C WARREN OLANOW

  • Mount Sinai School of Medicine
  • New York, USA

Disclosures

Professor Olanow owns shares in Clintrex which provides consulting services to many companies developing products in the Parkinson’s disease space. Clintrex specifically provides consulting services for Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Prof. Olanow is a paid consultant for and presented at the satellite symposium on behalf of Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. The views and opinions expressed are those of Prof. Olanow.

Overview

Professor Olanow discusses the pathophysiology of ‘OFF’ episodes and associated risk factors. He highlights study findings showing the association of long-term high-dose levodopa exposure with ‘OFF’ episode development and approaches for reducing this risk.

PROFESSOR OLIVIER RASCOL

  • Toulouse University Hospital
  • Toulouse, France

Disclosures

Professor Rascol has received honoraria for consultancy services, scientific advisory boards, research grants, and/or promotional speaking on behalf of: AbbVie, Adamas, Acorda, Addex, AlzProtect, Apopharma, AstraZeneca, Bial, Biogen, Britannia, Clevexel, INC Research, Lundbeck, Merck, MundiPharma, Neuroderm, Novartis, Oxford Biomedica, Parexel, Pfizer, Prexton Therapeutics, Quintiles, Sanofi, Servier, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc., Teva, UCB, XenoPort, and Zambon.

Prof. Rascol is a paid consultant for and presented at the satellite symposium on behalf of Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. The views and opinions expressed are those of Prof. Rascol.

Overview

Professor Rascol gives an overview of the current treatments of ‘OFF’ episodes in Parkinson’s disease. He stresses that ‘OFF’ episodes are a major unmet need in Parkinson’s disease and that faster-acting and longer-lasting therapies are vital in addressing this need.

PROFESSOR FABRIZIO STOCCHI

  • Parkinson’s Care and Diagnosis Center
  • IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana
  • Rome, Italy

Disclosures

Professor Stocchi has received honoraria for consultancy services, scientific advisory boards, research grants, and/or promotional speaking on behalf of: Chiesi Farmaceutici, EMD Serono, GlaxoSmithKline, Impax Laboratories, Lundbeck, Novartis, Merck Sharpe & Dohme, UCB, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc., and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

Prof. Stocchi is a paid consultant for and presented at the satellite symposium on behalf of Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. The views and opinions expressed are those of Prof. Stocchi.

Overview

Professor Stocchi discusses new and investigational therapies for acute treatment of ‘OFF’ episodes. He emphasizes that these episodes are often the result of delayed delivery of levodopa to the jejunum and that alternative routes of delivery and alternate agents can reduce these issues.

EXPERT PERSPECTIVES

Prof. Werner
Poewe
Prof. C Warren
Olanow
Prof. Olivier
Rascol
Prof. Fabrizio
Stocchi

PROFESSOR WERNER POEWE

  • Innsbruck Medical University
  • Innsbruck, Austria

Disclosures

Professor Poewe has received honoraria for CME, consultancy services, research grants, and/or promotional speaking on behalf of: AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Bial, Biogen, Biohaven, Britannia, Grüenthal, Intec, Ipsen, Lundbeck, Novartis, NeuroDerm, Orion Pharma, Oxford Biomedica, Prexton, Regenera, Roche, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc., Sun Pharma, Takeda, Teva, UCB, and Zambon.

Prof. Poewe is a paid consultant for and presented at the satellite symposium on behalf of Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. The views and opinions expressed are those of Prof. Poewe.

Overview

Professor Poewe discusses the phenomenology and clinical significance of ‘OFF’ episodes, the motor and non-motor symptoms, when they occur, their incidence, the development of dyskinesias and underlying mechanisms.

PROFESSOR C WARREN OLANOW

  • Mount Sinai School of Medicine
  • New York, USA

Disclosures

Professor Olanow owns shares in Clintrex which provides consulting services to many companies developing products in the Parkinson’s disease space. Clintrex specifically provides consulting services for Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Prof. Olanow is a paid consultant for and presented at the satellite symposium on behalf of Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. The views and opinions expressed are those of Prof. Olanow.

Overview

Professor Olanow discusses the pathophysiology of ‘OFF’ episodes and associated risk factors. He highlights study findings showing the association of long-term high-dose levodopa exposure with ‘OFF’ episode development and approaches for reducing this risk.

PROFESSOR OLIVIER RASCOL

  • Toulouse University Hospital
  • Toulouse, France

Disclosures

Professor Rascol has received honoraria for consultancy services, scientific advisory boards, research grants, and/or promotional speaking on behalf of: AbbVie, Adamas, Acorda, Addex, AlzProtect, Apopharma, AstraZeneca, Bial, Biogen, Britannia, Clevexel, INC Research, Lundbeck, Merck, MundiPharma, Neuroderm, Novartis, Oxford Biomedica, Parexel, Pfizer, Prexton Therapeutics, Quintiles, Sanofi, Servier, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc., Teva, UCB, XenoPort, and Zambon.

Prof. Rascol is a paid consultant for and presented at the satellite symposium on behalf of Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. The views and opinions expressed are those of Prof. Rascol.

Overview

Professor Rascol gives an overview of the current treatments of ‘OFF’ episodes in Parkinson’s disease. He stresses that ‘OFF’ episodes are a major unmet need in Parkinson’s disease and that faster-acting and longer-lasting therapies are vital in addressing this need.

PROFESSOR FABRIZIO STOCCHI

  • Parkinson’s Care and Diagnosis Center
  • IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana
  • Rome, Italy

Disclosures

Professor Stocchi has received honoraria for consultancy services, scientific advisory boards, research grants, and/or promotional speaking on behalf of: Chiesi Farmaceutici, EMD Serono, GlaxoSmithKline, Impax Laboratories, Lundbeck, Novartis, Merck Sharpe & Dohme, UCB, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc., and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

Prof. Stocchi is a paid consultant for and presented at the satellite symposium on behalf of Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. The views and opinions expressed are those of Prof. Stocchi.

Overview

Professor Stocchi discusses new and investigational therapies for acute treatment of ‘OFF’ episodes. He emphasizes that these episodes are often the result of delayed delivery of levodopa to the jejunum and that alternative routes of delivery and alternate agents can reduce these issues.

SYMPOSIUM PRESENTATIONS

From ‘OFF’ to ‘ON’ - Treating ‘OFF’ episodes in Parkinson’s disease

Four Parkinson’s disease experts discuss the phenomenology of ‘OFF’ episodes, associated risk factors and current treatment approaches.

These touchSYMPOSIUM HIGHLIGHTS videos were recorded live in March 2019.

Phenomenology and Clinical Significance of 'OFF' Episodes in PD - Prof. Werner Poewe Pathophysiology and Risk Factors for the Development of 'OFF' Episodes in PD - Prof. C Warren Olanow Current Approaches to the Treatment of 'OFF' Episodes in PD - Prof. Olivier Rascol New and Investigational Therapies for the Treatment of 'OFF' Episodes in PD - Prof. Fabrizio Stocchi

Symposium report download

Download a written report of the symposium, published in the journal US Neurology

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