Despite Side Effects, Does Tasigna Provide Any Medical Benefit to Parkinson's Disease Patients?
Written by: Lauren Schwab, Legal Assistant
Law Offices of Thomas J. Lamb, P.A.
Recent studies on Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) drug Tasigna (nilotinib) have shown it has no significant effects on individuals with Parkinson's disease.
Studying Tasigna's Effects On Parkinson's Disease
According to a May 2020 Medpage Today article, "Leukemia Drug for Parkinson's: A Second Look", researchers have found:
Over 6 months, [Tasigna (nilotinib)] had no effect on symptoms or disease progression in people with moderate to advanced Parkinson's in the phase IIa study, though it appeared safe and tolerable at both 150 mg and 300 mg doses in a population with very stringent inclusion criteria, reported Tanya Simuni, MD, of Northwestern University in Chicago.
The study came about following a small, proof-of-concept study regarding the effects of Tasigna on Parkinson's patients conducted by researchers at Georgetown University in 2016. The Georgetown study suggested possible benefits of the drug on the motor function and quality of life of Parkinson's patients.
Tasigna's Safety and Tolerability
Currently, Tasigna is approved by the FDA for adult or pediatric patients diagnosed with Ph+ CML in the chronic phase, adult patients diagnosed with Ph+ CML resistant or intolerant to prior therapy that included imatinib, or pediatric patients diagnosed with Ph+ CML with resistance or intolerance to prior tyrosine-kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy. Recently, there have been studies examining the impact of the drug on Parkinson's patients, though it is not currently approved by the FDA for use by patients afflicted by Parkinson's disease.
The study found that most Parkinson's disease patients found the drug to be tolerable, despite its lack of potential benefits. The drug was found to be tolerable at both the 150 mg and 300 mg doses, however one treatment-related serious adverse event did occur within the 300 mg group.
Tasigna's Side Effects and Potential Dangers
Tasigna has been linked to some serious drug side effects. One is atherosclerosis, a disease that results in the thickening, hardening, and blocking of the arteries due to a buildup of plaque. In addition, Tasigna's side effects include heart attacks, strokes, lower limb amputations, aneurysms, and more.
For a complete list of side effects or more information on Tasigna, please visit our Tasigna drug information page.
We will continue to monitor the issues surrounding Tasigna and provide you with any new or relevant information. Please feel free to share any information with us as well.
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