Long-Term Care

FDA signs off on Alzheimer’s drug patch

Contemporary Long-Term Care Weekly, July 12, 2007

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first skin patch for treatment of Alzheimer's disease, according to CNN.com. The patch will be developed by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. and contain the drug Exelon (rivastigimine), used presently in capsule form to treat mild dementia symptoms associated with Alzheimer's. The patch will provide patients with a continuous dose of the drug throughout the day, without the stomach pains that afflict many patients taking the oral version, CNN.com reported. The FDA also approved Novartis' patch for use with Parkinson's disease patients.

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