title: Safinamide: from molecular targets to a new anti-Parkinson drug.
abstract: Ideal treatment in Parkinson's disease (PD) aims at relieving symptoms and slowing disease progression. Of all remedies, levodopa remains the most effective for symptomatic relief, but the medical need for neuroprotectant drugs is still unfulfilled. Safinamide, currently in phase III clinical trials for the treatment of PD, is a unique molecule with multiple mechanisms of action and a very high therapeutic index. It combines potent, selective, and reversible inhibition of MAO-B with blockade of voltage-dependent Na+ and Ca2+ channels and inhibition of glutamate release. Safinamide has neuroprotective and neurorescuing effects in MPTP-treated mice, in the rat kainic acid, and in the gerbil ischemia model. Safinamide potentiates levodopa-mediated increase of DA levels in DA-depleted mice and reverses the waning motor response after prolonged levodopa treatment in 6-OHDA-lesioned rats. Safinamide has excellent bioavailability, linear kinetics, and is suitable for once-a-day administration. Therefore, safinamide may be used in PD to reduce l-dopa dosage and also represents a valuable therapeutic drug to test disease-modifying potential.
authors.affiliation: Newron Pharmaceuticals Spa, Bresso, MI, Italy. carla.caccia@newron.com
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caccia
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maj
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calabresi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maestroni
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Faravelli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Curatolo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salvati
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Fariello
mesh_terms: D000409:Alanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001596:Benzylamines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002545:Brain Ischemia; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005849:Gerbillinae; D006801:Humans; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000633:toxicity; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020267:MPTP Poisoning / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D014701:Veratridine / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D001596:Benzylamines; D007980:Levodopa; D014701:Veratridine; C092797:safinamide; D000409:Alanine; D007608:Kainic Acid