The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Cuvposa (glycopyrrolate) Oral Solution to treat chronic severe drooling caused by neurologic disorders in children ages 3 years to 16 years.
Drooling is normal in infants. But a significant proportion of the developmentally disabled population experiences drooling caused primarily by neuromuscular dysfunction that makes it hard to swallow. Cuvposa reduces drooling by lowering the volume of saliva produced.
Glycopyrrolate was approved decades ago to treat peptic ulcers and reduce salivation in patients under anesthesia. Until now, glycopyrrolate has been used on an off-label basis to treat drooling in the developmentally disabled population, but in a different dosage form than the approved product. A drug is said to be used off-label when a physician prescribes its use in a different way than described in the FDA-approved drug label.
In 2001, the FDA held an advisory committee meeting to discuss how best to develop products for drooling with ethically and scientifically sound trials in children who have neurological disorders. Utilizing the advice provided, the FDA has been able to move forward in addressing the needs of this population.
"Cuvposa provides an important therapy for controlling salivation in patients with neurologic disease," said John Jenkins, M.D., director of the Office of New Drugs in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "FDA approval not only ensures that the product meets modern standards for safety, effectiveness, quality and labeling; but, also results in a more suitable dose form for this patient population."