According to chief researcher Olivier Rascol of the University Hospital in Toulouse, France, Rasigiline was tested as an adjuvant in comparative tests against another drug in the same drug category, Entacapone, and a placebo. Rasigiline was found to be as effective as Entacapone is reducing the amount of "off time" by an average of 1.2 hours. It was well tolerated by the PD patients in the study and was taken only once daily.
Rasigiline (a new MAO B inhibitor) is used alongside Levodopa. When Levodopa fails to work, usually the dosages are reduced but given at smaller intervals throughout the day. That requires a very vigilant drug delivery program which requires constant patients management.
Rasigiline has completed Phase III clinical trials and is seeking FDA approval. [Source: Channel News Asia]
