A study of the Genotoxicity, Fertility and Early Embryonic Development Toxicity of Rotigotine Behenate Extended‐Release Microspheres

Abstract

Continuous dopaminergic stimulation (CDS) has become an important strategy for the development of drugs to treat Parkinson’s disease (PD). Rotigotine behenate extended‐release microspheres (RBEM) for injection represents a new treatment regime for CDS and is undergoing clinical trials. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of RBEM on genotoxicity, fertility, and early embryonic development. We used the Ames test, Chinese hamster lung (CHL) cell chromosome aberration test, and the mouse bone marrow micronucleus test, to evaluate the genotoxicity of RBEM. These tests were all negative, thus indicating that RBEM did not induce genotoxicity. In reproduction toxicity testing in male rats on obvious findings following intramuscular administration (i.m.) of RBEM at up to 540 mg/kg (P>0.5). When female rats were administered with RBEM in the dose range 60 to 540 mg/kg given (i.m.), there were clear effects on fertility and early embryonic development. These results indicated that RBEM could induce toxicity in female rats and exert effect on fertility and early embryonic development stage.