First-in-Iowa treatment reduces symptoms of advanced Parkinson’s disease

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Brian Neuendorf used to take 16 pills a day to manage his symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.  

That’s until the 56-year-old became the first Iowan and the first MercyOne Ruan Neurology Care patient to receive a new treatment for advanced Parkinson’s disease which is an alternative to all the pills. Called Vyalev, the treatment consists of a wearable pump that supplies a continuous infusion of medication via a small needle placed under the skin.

In short, the 24-hour continuous infusion, rather than intermittent doses of oral medication, helps to more evenly treat Parkinson’s symptoms throughout the day. These symptoms include excessive involuntary muscle movements, called dyskinesias, that range from minor fidgeting to body rocking movement.  

“A lot of people notice that I don’t rock anymore,” said Brian of Clive, Iowa.  “I often had to stop and explain to friends and colleagues why I was rocking. I don’t have to do that anymore.”

The improvements, Brian says, have also helped him professionally, allowing him to focus more on work and less on his Parkinson’s symptoms. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2022.

An exciting milestone

Brian’s neurologist, Alex Eischeid, MD, is excited about the treatment advance, approved by the FDA in October 2024. Since Brian started on Vyalev, he has experienced dramatic improvement, including better overall function, reduced involuntary body movements and significantly fewer motor fluctuations, Dr. Eischeid said.

“As the first patient in our clinic to receive this innovative continuous infusion, Brian’s success marks an exciting milestone in our mission to bring advanced, personalized care to our Parkinson’s community,” said Dr. Eischeid, a movement disorder neurologist who specializes in Parkinson’s disease at MercyOne Ruan Neurology Care. He is among several providers there who offer Vyalev.

Dr. Eischeid added, “Our wonderful clinic nurse, Kalea, has been instrumental in getting our patients access to this type of treatment.”

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that primarily affects movement, causing symptoms like tremors, stiffness and slowness of movement. Most Parkinson’s symptoms occur because of low dopamine levels in the brain. Dopamine is a chemical essential for coordination and movement.

As Parkinson’s progresses, traditional treatment regimens often require higher and more frequent oral dopamine drugs, such as levodopa, to provide the same therapeutic effects. Throughout the day, symptoms can fluctuate when oral medications wear off, referred to as “off time.”  

Vyalev has been shown to improve medication “on time,” compared to oral medications.  

Hope and support close to home

Brian has worked closely with his MercyOne Ruan Neurology Care team, as well as the care team from AbbVie, the device manufacturer.

“The support I received from MercyOne and AbbVie has been tremendous. The AbbVie nurse came to my home and showed me how to manage the device myself,” Brian said. “From how to reposition the needle and how to change out the medicine every day, they showed me how to be successful.”