Boehringer Ingelheim receives FDA approval for expanded use of Mirapex ER

RIDGEFIELD, Conn. Less than a month after winning approval for treating early stages of Parkinson’s disease, a Boehringer Ingelheim drug has won additional approval for treating the disease from the Food and Drug Administration, BI announced Tuesday.

The FDA approved the once-daily pill Mirapex ER (pramipexole dihydrochloride) for signs and symptoms of advanced idiopathic PD.

“In a pivotal trial of patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease, Mirapex ER not only demonstrated significant symptom improvement, but also increased the number of hours during which people with advanced Parkinson’s disease had better mobility,” University College London neuroscience researcher Anthony Schapira said. “With this approval, Mirapex ER may now help early as well as advanced PD patients with its convenient once-daily dosing schedule.”