FDA Approves AbbVie’s Once-Daily Parkinson’s Drug Tavapadon

WASHINGTON: (News Desk) – The US Food and Drug Administration has approved AbbVie’s tavapadon treatment for adults with Parkinson’s disease, according to information posted on the regulator’s website Friday.

The drug, which will be marketed under the brand name Juvmo, is designed to be taken as a once-daily pill.

AbbVie gained access to tavapadon through its $8.7 billion acquisition of Cerevel Therapeutics in 2023.

Parkinson’s disease is a long-term neurological disorder that progressively affects movement, often causing symptoms such as tremors, muscle stiffness and problems with balance. AbbVie estimates that more than 11 million people worldwide are living with the condition.

Juvmo works by mimicking the effects of dopamine, a chemical messenger in the brain that becomes depleted as Parkinson’s disease progresses.

The FDA approval was supported by data from AbbVie’s late-stage clinical trial programme, which showed improvements in Parkinson’s symptoms among patients receiving the treatment.

Common side effects reported during the trials included nausea, dizziness and headache.

AbbVie did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment regarding the drug’s launch and pricing.

Citi analysts had previously projected that Juvmo would enter the market in the third quarter of 2026, although they expected adoption to be gradual as discussions over Medicare coverage continued.