COMT inhibitors: Novel treatments for Parkinson's disease

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors are a new class of medication being developed for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). The enzyme COMT metabolizes levodopa and dopamine, both peripherally and centrally. Coadministration of a COMT inhibitor with levodopa creates an increase in peripheral and central levodopa bioavailability, as well as higher central dopamine concentrations. Because these actions improve the duration of response to levodopa, the COMT inhibitors should prove to be useful adjunctive therapies in PD patients.