Zelapar

Drug Overview

Zelapar (selegiline; Valeant) is a novel rapidly disintegrating tablet formulation of the monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibitor selegiline. Adding Zelapar as an adjuvant to levodopa reduces the motor complications after a few hours of response to levodopa ingestion. The MAO-B enzyme primarily catalyzes the conversion of dopamine and phenylethylamine in the brain. Selegiline binds to the MAO-B enzyme site and renders it inactive to provide a longer duration of dopamine in the synapse, thereby prolonging the therapeutic effect from levodopa therapy.

Analyst Outlook

Zelapar (selegiline; Valeant) has been overshadowed by the subsequent launch of Teva’s monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibitor Azilect (rasagiline), largely due to Azilect’s favorable tolerability and lack of harmful metabolites that are associated with selegiline. Zelapar was launched in the US in 2006 and has thus far generated disappointing sales. Although the novel buccal formulation showed promise for dysphagic patients, Zelapar has rapidly disappeared from the market.