A new formulation of GlaxoSmithKline's Parkinson's disease drug Requip (ropinirole), developed with UK drug delivery specialist SkyePharma, has entered Phase III testing. The two companies have already collaborated successfully on a once-daily formulation of GSK's widely-used antidepressant Paxil/Seroxat (paroxetine) which was launched last year.
The new product has been developed using SkyePharma's Geomatrix drug delivery technology, a multi-layered tablet that controls the dissolution and absorption of the drug in the body that was also used in Paxil CR. GSK and SkyePharma hope to provide a similar benefit with Requip OCR, simplifying treatment and improving patient convenience and compliance.
Paxil CR had been tipped as a significant source of royalty-based revenues for SkyePharma, but some of the enthusiasm surrounding the product has been dampened in recent weeks following restrictions on its use in people aged under 18.