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Clinical Trial
. 2025 May 22;272(6):416.
doi: 10.1007/s00415-025-13123-y.

Patients' experience with and perspectives on long-term use of continuous subcutaneous infusion of foslevodopa/foscarbidopa in Parkinson's disease

Michael Soileau  1 , Rajeev Kumar  2   3 , Ashwini Parab  4 , Triza Brion  5 , Kailee White  6 , Connie H Yan  4 , Megha B Shah  4 , Pavnit Kukreja  4 , Maurizio F Facheris  7 , Anand Shewale  4 , Jason Aldred  8
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Patients' experience with and perspectives on long-term use of continuous subcutaneous infusion of foslevodopa/foscarbidopa in Parkinson's disease

Michael Soileau et al. J Neurol. .

Abstract

Objectives: We aimed to assess ease of use, convenience, self-efficacy, and satisfaction with long-term use of foslevodopa/foscarbidopa (LDp/CDp), a 24-h continuous subcutaneous infusion therapy delivered via an external portable pump for managing motor fluctuations in people with Parkinson's disease (PwP).

Methods: PwP using LDp/CDp for ≥ 6 months and enrolled in an open-label study participated in semi-structured interviews, which were qualitatively analyzed using a content and thematic approach.

Results: Nineteen adults, with an average (standard deviation) age of 63.6 (10.8) years, disease duration of 9.2 (3.4) years, and duration of LDp/CDp use of 15.4 (3.4) months, were interviewed. Most found LDp/CDp to be user-friendly (89.5%) and reliable (100%), and developed strategies to integrate the pump into their daily lives. The pump was commonly worn crossbody or around the waist, with minimal impact on sleep, though participants emphasized being mindful of the infusion set tubing to prevent tangling. Participants established routines using reminders, alarms, or schedules, and 84.2% prepared the pump in ≤ 20 min. Most (81.3%) were confident using LDp/CDp independently and 92.3% were satisfied with LDp/CDp, citing improved, consistent symptom control that allowed more freedom to participate in daily and social activities. Participants suggested improvements for the pump, including making it smaller and lighter.

Conclusion: PwP expressed high satisfaction and willingness to continue using LDp/CDp. PwP and their care partners developed innovative strategies to integrate the pump into daily routines, and the perceived symptom improvement drove successful persistence on this well-tolerated treatment.

Trial registration: NCT04750226; started February 18, 2021.

Keywords: Device aided therapy; Foslevodopa/foscarbidopa; Levodopa/carbidopa; Parkinson’s disease; Subcutaneous infusion; Subcutaneous injection.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflicts of interest: AbbVie participated in the study design, research, analysis, data collection, interpretation of data, reviewing, and approval of the publication. No honoraria or payments were made for authorship. AP, CHY, MBS, PK, and AS are employees of AbbVie (and MS is a former employee of AbbVie) and may hold stock. TB is an employee of ICON Plc and, at the time of the analysis, KW was an employee of Lumanity: both of which received research funds from AbbVie to conduct this study. JA has received research funding from Biogen, Teva, Abbvie, Roche, Lundbeck, Parkinson’s Foundation, Boston Scientific, Bial, UCB, Neurocrine, PhotoPharmics/Univ Rochester, Annovis, Sage, Aptinyx, Quadralynx, Takeda, Praxis; consulting fees from Supernus, Abbvie, Boston Scientific; and previously received honoraria from Abbvie, Teva, Neurocrine. MS has received advisory/consulting fees from AbbVie, Abbott, Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Merz therapeutics, Medtronic, Neurocrine, Supernus; research support from AbbVie, Cerevel therapeutics, Cerevance, CND Lifesciences, Intra-cellular Therapies, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Praxis Precision Medicine, Scion, and Teva; served on the speaking bureau for AbbVie, Amneal pharmaceuticals, Biogen, and Kyowa Kiran; and received grant support from the HDSA. RK: has received consulting fees or honoraria from AbbVie, Annexon, Cerevel Therapeutics, Roche/Genentech, Supernus Pharmaceuticals, and Teva Pharmaceuticals; is a member of the speakers'bureau for Kyowa Kirin and Teva Pharmaceuticals; has stock ownership in CenExel Clinical Research Holdings and Research Catalyst, LLC; and has received research grant support from AbbVie, Alexa Pharmaceuticals, Annexon Biosciences, Annovis, Bial, Biogen, Biohaven, Biovie, Cerevance, Cerevel Therapeutics, CHDI Foundation, CND Life Sciences, Cognition Therapeutics, Eli Lilly, Ferrer, Lundbeck, Neurocrine Biosciences, Neuroderm, Ono pharmaceuticals, Prilenia Therapeutics, PTC Therapeutics, Roche, Sage Therapeutics, Scion Neurostim, Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Transposon Therapeutics, UCB, Uniqure Biopharma, and Vigil Neuroscience. Ethical standards: Full ethics review and approval were obtained from the institutional review board and were performed in accordance with the ethical standards of the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments. All participants gave their informed consent prior to their inclusion in the study.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
LDp/CDp includes a portable pump, infusion set tubing, and cannula. The pump can be carried in a case around the waist or crossbody. LDp/CDp, foslevodopa/foscarbidopa
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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