The FDA approved the use of the Neupro patch this past May. It will be coming to a physician’s office near you.

The Neupro patch delivers the drug rotigotine,which helps the brain produce dopamine, which is naturally produced in a healthy brain and lacking when Parkinson’s disease is present.

Dr. Joseph Jankovic, Baylor professor of neurology and director of the school’s Parkinson’s Disease Center and Movement Disorders Clinic believes the Neupro patch is a major breakthrough. Prior to the introduction of the patch Parkinson’s patients received the necessary medication either in tablet form or by injections. Those delivery systems could not regulate the delivery of the needed medication as well as a patch does.