New data from a randomized, placebo-controlled "withdrawal" study1 show that discontinuation of pramipexole leads to rapid worsening of RLS in patients who had previously responded well to pramipexole therapy. In this study, RLS patients who responded to pramipexole treatment in a preceding 6-month open label treatment phase were randomized to receive either blinded pramipexole (n=78) or placebo (n=69) for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint of the study was assessment of 'Time to Worsening' of RLS symptoms measured using the International RLS Rating Scale (IRLS) and the Clinical Global Impressions – Global Improvement (CGI-I) scale. The results showed:
- RLS patients who were randomized to continue treatment with pramipexole experienced a significantly longer time before their symptoms worsened than those patients who were randomised to placebo (p<0.0001)
- The proportion of patients that experienced worsening of their RLS symptoms in the blinded pramipexole group was statistically significantly smaller compared to those randomized to receive placebo (pramipexole 20.5 percent vs. placebo 85.5 percent; p<0.0001)
- One week after randomization, more than 70.0 percent of patients on placebo worsened as compared to just 9.0 percent of patients in the blinded pramipexole group
- Pramipexole also significantly improved the disease-specific quality of life score to 90 percent (70 percent for placebo; p<0.0001)
In addition, in a fixed-dose study pramipexole demonstrated significant improvement in symptoms of RLS, when measured by two standard clinical assessment tools, when compared to placebo.2 This 12-week, placebo-controlled, randomized study sought to compare the efficacy and safety of pramipexole at different doses (0.25mg; 0.5mg and 0.75mg) when compared to placebo. After 12 weeks, patients who received pramipexole - across all three doses - experienced significantly greater improvements in symptoms of RLS compared to placebo. Three hundred and forty five patients were randomized and 339 patients were assessed at the end of 12 weeks for improvement in RLS symptoms using the IRLS and CGI-I scales.
- IRLS scores at week 12 demonstrated that across all three pramipexole doses the IRLS score was significantly improved for patients when compared to placebo
- CGI-I scores also demonstrated that significantly more patients who received pramipexole treatment reported themselves as 'much improved' or 'very much improved' at the end of 12 weeks of treatment compared to patients treated with placebo
In both studies pramipexole was generally well-tolerated and the most frequent adverse events were nausea, headache and fatigue.
Previous studies in RLS have reported rapid, statistically significant effects of pramipexole on RLS symptoms. The efficacy and safety of pramipexole for treatment of RLS has been studied from a starting dose of 0.125mg single dose per day and up to 0.75mg single dose per day.
These trials are part of a comprehensive clinical trial program, involving more than 1,000 patients, to assess the therapeutic potential of pramipexole in the treatment of RLS. Boehringer Ingelheim, the discoverer of the molecule, has also recently submitted applications for international regulatory approval of pramipexole in the treatment of RLS.
About RLS
Symptoms of RLS include an uncontrollable urge to move the legs, and unpleasant and/or painful sensations in the legs. People often describe their symptoms as feeling like they have insects or "creepy-crawlies" running through their legs or a sensation of pins and needles. Symptoms can begin or worsen during periods of rest or inactivity (for example lying down or sitting in the cinema or theatre) and often are worse at night time.
About pramipexole
Pramipexole, a compound from Boehringer Ingelheim research, was jointly developed by Boehringer Ingelheim and Pharmacia Corp. (today Pfizer). Currently, pramipexole is approved in the U.S. for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of idiopathic Parkinson's disease, as monotherapy or in combination with levodopa. The most commonly reported adverse events in early and late Parkinson's disease in clinical trials were dizziness, dyskinesia, extrapyramidal syndrome, headache, insomnia, somnolence, and nausea. Hallucinations and postural (orthostatic) hypotension may occur. Patients have reported falling asleep without perceived warning signs during activities of daily living, including operation of a motor vehicle, which sometimes resulted in accidents.
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., based in Ridgefield, CT, is the largest U.S. subsidiary of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation (Ridgefield, CT) and a member of the Boehringer Ingelheim group of companies.
The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world's 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates globally with 144 affiliates in 45 countries and nearly 36,000 employees. Since it was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel products of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.
In 2004, Boehringer Ingelheim posted net sales of US $10.2 billion (8.2 billion euro) while spending nearly one fifth of net sales in its largest business segment, Prescription Medicines, on research and development.
For more information, please visit http://us.boehringer-ingelheim.com.
CONTACT:
Kate O'Connor
Public Relations
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Phone: 203-791-6250
Email: koconno4@rdg.boehringer-ingelheim.com
References
1. C. Trenkwalder, K. Stiasny-Kolster and the German RLS-Pramipexole Study Group. Sustained efficacy of Pramipexole in Restless Legs Syndrome. WASM 2005; Berlin, Germany; Oral presentation, Abstract # 057; 16 Oct 2005
2. Winkelman J, Sethi K, Kushida C, Becker P, Mahowald M. Pramipexole is efficacious and safe in treating RLS patients: Results of a 12 weeks placebo controlled, fixed dose study. WASM 2005; Berlin, Germany; Oral presentation, Abstract # 058; 16 Oct 2005