What is opicapone?

Opicapone is a drug used together with levodopa in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) under the trade name Ongentys. Clinically, Opicapone, as a catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor, can restore dopamine levels in the part of the brain that controls movement and coordination. It can enhance the effect of levodopa, which is a copy of the neurotransmitter dopamine that can be taken orally.

Opicapone effectively (>90% at therapeutic doses) selectively and reversibly blocks an enzyme involved in the breakdown of levodopa in the body, called catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), and only outside the central nervous system. Therefore, levodopa remains active longer, which helps improve symptoms of Parkinson's disease, such as stiffness and slowness of movement. The most common side effects are dyskinesia (difficulty controlling movement), constipation, elevated blood creatine kinase, hypotension/syncope, and weight loss. The drug Opicapone is contraindicated in patients with cancers that secrete catecholamines (such as epinephrine), such as pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma, because as a COMT inhibitor, it blocks the degradation of catecholamines.

Opicapone has not yet been launched in the country, so it is not covered by medical insurance. The European version of Opicapone’s original drug specifications listed overseasThe price per box of 50mg*90 capsules is around RMB 6,000 (the price may fluctuate due to the exchange rate). There is currently no generic version of Opicapone on the market. For more drug information and specific prices, please consult Yaode’s medical consultant.