Real-world data show treatment improves patients' quality of life
Written by Michela Luciano, PhD | May 14, 2026
- Vyalev, a continuous under-the-skin infusion, significantly reduces off time and dyskinesia in advanced Parkinson's disease.
- The treatment improves both motor and nonmotor symptoms, including pain and sleep disturbances.
- Patients see improved quality of life, and Vyalev's safety profile is consistent with prior clinical trials.
Vyalev, Abbvie‘s continuous under-the-skin infusion formulation of levodopa/carbidopa, reduces off time and eases motor and some nonmotor symptoms in adults with advanced Parkinson’s disease.
That’s according to six-month data from an ongoing real-world study, ROSSINI (NCT06107426), which also showed the therapy improves patients’ quality of life. The trial is evaluating Vyalev in routine clinical practice across 10 countries in 427 adults with advanced Parkinson’s who will be followed for up to three years.
“ROSSINI demonstrates reductions in motor fluctuations and nonmotor symptoms, and increased quality of life in patients with [advanced Parkinson’s disease] after [six] months of [Vyalev] treatment,” the researchers wrote. “The safety profile was consistent with clinical trials.”
The interim data were published in Neurology and Therapy in an Abbvie-funded study titled, “Real-World Safety and Effectiveness of 24-Hour Foslevodopa/Foscarbidopa in Parkinson’s Disease: ROSSINI Study 6-Month Interim Results.”
Parkinson’s disease is caused by the progressive loss of brain cells that produce the signaling molecule dopamine, resulting in Parkinson’s symptoms that most commonly affect movement and balance. A mainstay Parkinson’s treatment is oral levodopa, a precursor of dopamine that’s usually given together with carbidopa, a medicine that allows more levodopa to reach the brain and be converted into dopamine.
Maintaining levodopa
Levodopa/carbidopa therapy is usually effective at controlling symptoms. However, many patients eventually develop motor fluctuations, when motor symptoms return between scheduled doses during periods known as off episodes. Long-term levodopa treatment may also lead to dyskinesia, or uncontrolled and involuntary movements.
Vyalev, sold as Produodopa in Europe and the U.K., is designed to continuously deliver foslevodopa and foscarbidopa via a specialized pump 24 hours a day. These are prodrug forms of levodopa and carbidopa, inactive molecules that convert to the active medications once inside the body. By maintaining more stable levodopa levels, the therapy aims to reduce off episodes and improve symptom control.
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