Sunovion is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts. The company specializes in central nervous system (CNS) therapeutics and has a significant focus on movement disorders, particularly Parkinson's disease (PD)[1].
Sunovion's most notable contribution to Parkinson's disease treatment is apomorphine, which remains the only FDA-approved dopamine agonist for rescue therapy in PD patients experiencing "off" episodes. The company continues to develop novel formulations and delivery systems for Parkinson's disease management[2].
| Program | Target/Mechanism | Indication | Phase | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apomorphine (Apokyn) | Dopamine agonist | Parkinson's Disease | Approved | Marketed |
| Apomorphine SL (Sumatriptan) | Dopamine agonist | Parkinson's Disease | Phase 3 | Completed |
| Apomorphine subcutaneous infusion | Continuous dopaminergic stimulation | Parkinson's Disease | Phase 3 | Active |
| SEP-363856 | Trace amine receptor agonist | Parkinson's Disease | Phase 2 | Active |
Apomorphine is a non-selective dopamine agonist with high affinity for D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5 receptors. Unlike oral dopamine agonists, apomorphine can be administered subcutaneously and provides rapid onset of action, making it effective for treating "off" episodes in PD patients[3].
Approved Formulations:
Clinical Use:
Apomorphine is indicated for the treatment of hypomobility ("off") episodes in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease who have an inadequate response to other therapies. It provides onset of action within 10 minutes and effect duration of approximately 60-90 minutes[4].
ABBV-951 (formerly known as ABBV-951, foslevodopa/foscarbidopa) is a subcutaneous infusion therapy developed through Sunovion's partnership with AbbVie. This continuous delivery system provides steady dopaminergic stimulation, potentially reducing motor complications[5].
Rationale:
Clinical Status:
SEP-363856 is a novel trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) agonist developed by Sunovion. Unlike traditional dopamine agonists, TAAR1 activation offers a non-dopaminergic mechanism for PD treatment, potentially avoiding dopaminergic side effects like dyskinesias[6].
Mechanism:
Clinical Status:
Sunovion's Parkinson's disease programs address autonomic dysfunction manifestations:
Apomorphine and Autonomic Symptoms
Apomorphine therapy provides benefits for several autonomic aspects of PD:
ABBV-951 (Foslevodopa/Foscarbidopa) Subcutaneous Infusion
Continuous subcutaneous delivery offers particular advantages for autonomic function:
SEP-363856 (TAAR1 Agonist)
The novel non-dopaminergic mechanism may offer autonomic benefits:
Sunovion is developing advanced delivery technologies for Parkinson's disease:
The company is investigating neuroprotective strategies:
| Partner | Focus Area | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| AbbVie | Continuous infusion | ABBV-951 |
| Sumitomo Pharma | Global development | All programs |
| External academia | Basic research | Various |
Dopamine Agonists
Apomorphine
Roche
AbbVie
Denali Therapeutics
Apomorphine Mechanism - Jankovic J, et al. Neurology 2005. 2005. ↩︎
Apokyn Prescribing Information. 2004. ↩︎
SEP-363856 TAAR1 Agonist - Science Translational Medicine 2020. 2020. ↩︎