Teva Gets Parkinson's Drug OK

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries(TEVA Quote) received Food and Drug Administration clearance to sell Azilect, a once-daily pill for treating symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Azilect will be available in 8 to 10 weeks. The drug is approved by the FDA as a single therapy for early-stage Parkinson's disease and as an adjunct therapy for moderate to advanced Parkinson's disease. For this latter group of patients, Azilect will be used with the stronger drug levodopa.

Parkinson's disease causes a progressive loss of nerve-cell function in the brain, producing such symptoms as unsteady gait, shaking and muscle stiffness. Teva says the disease affects some 4 million people worldwide, including 1 million in the U.S. ...