Hopledo, already known as Crexont in the US, is planned for availability in Europe from October 2026

A new extended release tablet is on the horizon for people with Parkinson's across Europe. The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, which is the expert medical panel for the European Medicines Agency, has officially recommended approving Hopledo. This medication is already available in the United States under the brand name Crexont, where it is known technically as IPX203. Following this positive expert opinion, the drug companies Zambon and Amneal announced that they expect to begin making the medication available in European markets in a phased roll out starting from October 2026. The treatment is specifically designed for adults who experience moderate to severe motor fluctuations. This means it is for people who notice their current standard medications wearing off before it is time for their next dose, causing a return of movement difficulties. Hopledo is an oral capsule that contains a unique combination of ingredients designed to manage levodopa levels more effectively. Inside each capsule are immediate release granules alongside special extended release pellets. The immediate release part works quickly to get levodopa into the system and get movement back under control rapidly. Meanwhile, the extended release pellets slowly dissolve over many hours, keeping the levodopa levels steady in the blood for much longer than standard options. The recommendation from the medical panel is backed by data from a major international Phase 3 clinical trial called RISE-PD. In this study, researchers compared the new formulation directly against standard immediate release levodopa and carbidopa. The results showed that people taking the new formulation gained significantly more "Good ON" time during the day, which is the time when movement symptoms are well controlled without troublesome involuntary movements. Remarkably, participants achieved this extra stable time while taking fewer daily doses of medication compared to standard levodopa. With over one million people living with Parkinson's in the European Union alone, and a vast majority experiencing wearing off symptoms over time, this news represents a significant milestone. The drug company Zambon holds the exclusive license to market and distribute the medication across the European Union, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. While the final official approval from the European Commission is the next formal step, the positive expert recommendation means manufacturing and distribution planning is underway to hit the target launch date of October 2026.