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Background Limited trials are evaluating the efficacy of monoamine oxidase B inhibitors as an adjunct to levodopa monotherapy for early wearing-off in Parkinson’s disease (PD). We evaluated the efficacy and safety of safinamide in patients with fluctuating PD treated with levodopa monotherapy. Methods This pooled analysis used data from the J-SILVER and KEEP studies and targeted patients with PD experiencing wearing-off who received safinamide as adjunct to levodopa monotherapy. Efficacy endpoints were mean changes in 39-item Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39), Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) Parts III and IV, and daily OFF time at 18 weeks of treatment. Results Of 54 patients (J-SILVER, N = 24; KEEP, N = 30), 41 completed the studies. Although not statistically significant, the change in PDQ-39 Summary Index exceeded the minimal clinical important difference (mean standard deviation (SD): −2.2 7.5, p = 0.094) at Week 18. Significant improvements in MDS-UPDRS Parts III and IV scores and daily OFF time were observed at Week 18 from baseline (mean SD: −2.8 8.5; p = 0.043, −1.3 2.7; p = 0.004, and −1.2 3.5 hours; p = 0.041, respectively). Adverse events occurred in 24 patients (43.6%) and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) occurred in 12 patients (21.8%). ADRs with an incidence ≥5% were dyskinesia (3 events, 5.5%). In subgroup analyses, improvements in PDQ-39 Summary Index and MDS-UPDRS Parts III and IV were significant in patients aged ≥75 years ( p = 0.039, p = 0.029, and p = 0.025, respectively). Conclusion Safinamide as an adjunct to levodopa monotherapy was effective for early wearing-off without any new tolerability concerns. Safinamide was particularly beneficial in elderly patients.
Nishikawa et al. (2025) studied this question.