Levodopa methyl ester hydrochloride, under acidic conditions in the body, hydrolyzes to levodopa, which is a prodrug of levodopa. Levodopa, also known as L-dopa, is a hydroxylated derivative of tyrosine and a precursor of dopamine synthesis in the body. It has no pharmacological activity on its own but crosses the blood-brain barrier, where, through the action of dopa decarboxylase, it is converted into dopamine to exert its pharmacological effect and alleviate symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
1. Levodopa methyl ester is a prodrug of levodopa, derived through structural modification of levodopa to overcome the issues of low bioavailability and slow absorption associated with levodopa.
2. Currently, there are approximately 2 million patients with Parkinson's disease in China, indicating a large target population base.
3. It can substitute for equivalent doses of levodopa.
4. There is potential for further development of levodopa methyl ester/carbidopa tablet formulations.
China
