What are the newest medicines for Parkinson’s (and how to get them in Chile)?

Last updated: 13 March 2025

What are the newest medicines for Parkinson’s (and how to get them in Chile)?

You can legally access new medicines, even if they are not approved in your country.

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Among Latin American countries, Chile has the highest prevalence of Parkinson's disease 1. The condition causes symptoms like tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with movement. While there is no cure, advances in medicine offer hope for managing symptoms more effectively.

However, accessing the latest treatments for Parkinson's can be a challenge. In Chile, only 25% of new medicines become available 2. And the ones that do, can take years to reach patients.

The good news is that patients in Chile can access some of the newest, most advanced treatments for Parkinson’s disease. Even if they are not yet approved or available locally. In this article, you’ll learn about three latest treatments for Parkinson’s and how to get them in Chile.

What are the newest treatments for Parkinson’s disease in 2025?

In recent years, significant progress has been made in developing medicines that help manage Parkinson’s symptoms more effectively. These medicines aim to improve patients' quality of life by addressing key motor and non-motor symptoms. Here are three of the most notable new treatments.

#1: Inbrija (levodopa inhalation powder) — For sudden "off" episodes

Inbrija (levodopa inhalation powder) is a medicine administered via an inhaler, when the patient feels the symptoms of an "off" episode.

The way Inbrija works is by helping increase dopamine levels in the brain. Increased dopamine helps improve the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Due to its mode of administration (inhaled), Inbrija is able to increase dopamine in the brain quickly 3.

How effective is Inbrija for Parkinson's?

In clinical studies, Inbrija's efficacy has been assessed using improvements on the unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS) as a success indicator. Some key reported results were:

  • Patients taking Inbrija during an "off" episode had an average improvement of 10 points on the UPDRS scale within 30 minutes, compared to a 6-point improvement for the placebo group;
  • 71% of patients treated with Inbrija reported an improvement in symptoms, compared to 46% in the placebo group 2.

Is Inbrija available in Chile?

Not as of March 2025. Its original manufacturer, Acorda Therapeutics, intended to file a marketing authorization application for Chile at the end of 2023. However, it subsequently filed for bankruptcy. In April 2024, Inbrija (levodopa inhalation powder) was acquired by Merz. It is unclear whether and when the medicine's new owner will proceed with an approval application for Chile 4.

This being said, if you're a Parkinson's patient in Chile, you can access Inbrija right away. Even if it's not available in your country yet. This is possible via the Named Patient Import regulation, and the expert team at Everyone.org will be happy to help you with it. To get started, request the medicine below.

 

Request Inbrija

#2: Duodopa (levodopa/carbidopa intestinal gel) — For advanced Parkinson’s

Duodopa (branded as Duopa in the USA) is an intestinal gel for use in advanced Parkinson's disease. It is administered through a special pump. The active ingredients in Duodopa are levodopa- which raises dopamine levels in the brain- and carbidopa - which improves the effect of levodopa and reduces side effects 5.

Due to the mode of administration, Duodopa allows for a steady and individually adjusted dose of the medicine.

How effective is Duodopa for Parkinson's disease?

According to the published results of the clinical trial comparing Duodopa with carbidopa/levodopa immediate-release pills, this is what we know about the therapy's efficacy:

  • Patients treated with Duodopa experienced on average 4 hours less "off" time per day, compared to 2.1 hours less for the pills group;
  • At the start of the trial, patients were taking on average 10 levodopa pills per day. 12 weeks after the start, that declined to an average of half a pill per day 6.

Is Duodopa available in Chile?

Not as of March 2025. The combination of levodopa and carbidopa is currently only approved in Chile in tablet form. If you need help accessing Duodopa in Chile, get in touch with our expert Medicine Access team. 

 

#3: Vyalev/Produodopa (forcarbidopa/foslevodopa) — A subcutaneous 24-hour infusion

Vyalev (also known as Produodopa) is prescribed for treating motor fluctuations in advanced Parkinson's disease. It is administered under the skin through a wearable pump. The medicine is intended for patients who are not responding sufficiently to levodopa pills anymore. It provides an alternative that delivers the medicine continuously throughout the day.

Vyalev's key ingredients are foscarbidopa and foslevodopa. The body converts them into carbidopa and levodopa. In turn, levodopa helps increase dopamine levels in the brain, while carbidopa helps levodopa work better, by preventing it from being broken down too quickly before reaching the brain 7.

 

How effective is Vyalev for Parkinson's?

In a clinical study comparing Vyalev with immediate-release carbidopa/levodopa pills, these were some of the key reported results:

  • Patients treated with Vyalev experienced 2.72 hours more "on" time, compared to 0.97 hours more "on" time with pills;
  • On average, patients were taking 12 pills per day at the start of the study, and 0 pills per day at the end;
  • Patients taking Vyalev saw a 36% reduction in their sleep disturbances, compared to a 13% reduction with pills 8.

How to get Vyalev/Produodopa in Chile

While Vyalev (forcarbidopa/foslevodopa) is not yet available in Chile, you can get it right away, if it is prescribed by your doctor. This is possible via the Named Patient Import regulation, which is in effect in most countries around the world.

If you need support with accessing Vyalev in Chile, the expert team at Everyone.org can help. To get started, request the medicine below.

 

 

Request Vyalev

How to access new Parkinson’s treatments in Chile

Even if a new medicine is not yet available in Chile, you can still access it legally for personal use. Here’s how:

  • Talk to your doctor: Your neurologist can help determine if one of these new medicines is suitable for you and provide a prescription.
  • Use a Named Patient Import program: This legal pathway allows patients to access medicines that are approved abroad but not yet locally available.
  • Get support from an access specialist: Organizations specializing in medicine access can assist you in navigating the process, handling importation, and ensuring regulatory compliance. Everyone.org is specialized in supporting patients with accessing medicines via Named Patient Import. Get in touch if you need our help.

Always the best and newest treatments for Parkinson’s disease

It can take years for new Parkinson’s treatments to become available in Chile. But as a patient, you don’t have to wait. If your doctor believes one of the latest medicines is right for you, you can access it legally for personal use.

If you or a loved one needs assistance with obtaining the newest Parkinson’s treatments in Chile, our team is ready to help at every step.

 

Get in touch

References:

  1. Epidemiology of Parkinson’s Disease in Chile. Neuroepidemiology, Accessed 13 March 2025.
  2. Global Access to New Medicines Report. CDN, Accessed 13 March 2025. 
  3. Inbrija. EMA, Accessed 13 March 2025.
  4. Merz Therapeutics Closes $185M Asset Purchase Agreement with Acorda Therapeutics. Merz, Accessed 13 March 2025. 
  5. Duodopa Everyday. Richmond Neurology, Accessed 13 March 2025. 
  6. Duopa. Duopa.com, Accessed 13 March 2025.
  7. HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION. RxAbbVie, Accessed 13 March 2025. 
  8. Efficacy. Vyalevhcp.com, Accessed 13 March 2025.