Bial Brings New Sublingual Apomorphine Option to the UK
Bial has introduced a new sublingual formulation of apomorphine in the United Kingdom, providing an additional “rescue” treatment option for adults with Parkinson’s disease who experience intermittent OFF episodes that are not adequately controlled by oral medication.
With an estimated 166,000 people living with Parkinson’s across the UK, the arrival of a fast-acting alternative is positioned as a timely development for patients whose symptoms can fluctuate sharply through the day.
For many people with Parkinson’s, OFF periods are an unwelcome feature of progression – moments when levodopa becomes insufficient and symptoms return. These episodes can bring back stiffness, tremors and difficulty moving, often at the times when independence matters most.
Everyday tasks can suddenly become slower, harder, or impossible, and quality of life can take a hit in ways that are as frustrating as they are unpredictable. Because of that, rescue therapies that act quickly are widely viewed as an important complement to standard treatment, helping patients regain control when a day threatens to slip off course.
A Consultant Neurologist and Professor of Neurology at the National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London, highlighted motor fluctuations as a major concern for patients as Parkinson’s progresses. They noted that oral doses of levodopa can take around an hour before they start to take effect – and that some doses fail completely due to slow stomach emptying or competition for absorption from dietary protein.
In that context, the Professor emphasised that identifying other mechanisms of administration for dopaminergic therapies is of major importance, adding that they look forward to assessing the benefits of sublingual apomorphine in Parkinson’s patients experiencing these problems.
The new medicine is delivered as a sublingual film, designed to avoid first-pass metabolism and support rapid symptom relief. For patients and clinicians, that “route” is not a technical footnote – it’s the point.
When OFF episodes are measured in minutes and movement is the currency of day-to-day life, a formulation designed for faster onset may offer practical value precisely when oral medication cannot reliably deliver.
Clinical evidence behind the formulation includes two phase 3 studies demonstrating efficacy and safety. These include a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial as well as an open-label crossover study comparing the sublingual film with subcutaneous apomorphine.
Together, the studies helped underpin the treatment’s arrival as another tool in the clinical kit for managing intermittent OFF episodes in appropriate adult patients.
A Consultant Neurologist and Professor of Clinical Neuroscience at the Translational and Clinical Research Institute at Newcastle and Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, also welcomed the UK availability, saying they were delighted to see Kynmobi becoming available as another therapeutic option for Parkinson’s disease.
They stressed that having a breadth of therapies to select from allows clinicians to provide care personalised to the requirements and preferences of patients. The Professor also noted it was particularly pleasing to see a new formulation reach the market based on trials that UK sites helped to deliver, adding that active engagement with research opportunities and support for trial delivery helps ensure people with Parkinson’s continue to benefit from innovative therapies.
From Bial’s perspective, the launch is framed as both a patient-focused milestone and a strategic marker. The company’s UK Country Manager said Bial’s commitment to people living with Parkinson’s is unwavering, recognising that OFF episodes can affect daily life significantly and turn everyday moments into real challenges.
They added that Bial is delighted to offer a treatment option that helps patients and healthcare professionals manage symptoms as difficult and disabling as OFF episodes can be.
Bringing the medicine to UK patients – the fifth country to do so – was described as evidence of the company’s ongoing dedication to Parkinson’s patients and an important step in its ambition to be a reference and top partner in neurology and Parkinson’s disease in Europe.
In conclusion
Bial’s introduction of sublingual apomorphine in the UK reflects a growing emphasis on practical, fast-acting options for managing Parkinson’s OFF episodes when oral medication falls short.
With clinicians highlighting the real-world limitations of levodopa absorption and the impact of motor fluctuations on independence, the arrival of a sublingual film – supported by phase 3 evidence and welcomed as a way to broaden personalised care – marks a notable addition to the UK’s Parkinson’s treatment landscape.
News Credits: Bial launches new sublingual Parkinson’s treatment in UK
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