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Drug

Levodopa

Approved · FDA / EMA
ClassDopamine D3 receptor agonistEmerging researchLate-stage developmentSteady momentum
Also known as (-)-dopa, 3-Hydroxy-L-tyrosine, Atamet, Carbidopa-Levodopa+22 more

(-)-dopa, 3-Hydroxy-L-tyrosine, Atamet, Carbidopa-Levodopa, Crexont, Dhivy, Dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine, Dopar, Duopa, Inbrija, L-3-hydroxytyrosine, L-DOPA, LDOPA, Larodopa, Parcopa, Rytary, Sinemet, Stalevo, Vyalev, Levo-dopa, (-)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-L-alanine, 3,4-Dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine, Carbidopa/Entacapone/Levodopa, L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, L-beta-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)alanine, Levodopum.

9
Research papers
3
Active clinical trials
D(3) dopamine receptor
Primary target
9
Regulatory events
Latest activity
beta

Recent clinical, regulatory, research and industry developments relating to this drug.

Label change: LEVODOPA (NDA209184)

Regulatory2026-07-07FDA

Cortical Electrophysiology of Response Inhibition in Parkinson's Disease

Clinical trial2026-07-01Primary completion · ClinicalTrials.gov

Dopaminergic Dysfunction in Late-Life Depression

Clinical trial2026-04-29Completed · ClinicalTrials.gov

Label change: LEVODOPA (NDA209184)

Regulatory2026-03-31FDA

Profile

Identifiers & mechanism

Canonical identifiers, marketed brand names and mechanism, resolved across RxNorm, ChEMBL and ATC.

Canonical name
Levodopa
Aliases & brands
(-)-dopa3-Hydroxy-L-tyrosineAtametCarbidopa-LevodopaCrexontDhivyDihydroxy-L-phenylalanineDoparDuopaInbrijaL-3-hydroxytyrosineL-DOPALDOPALarodopaParcopaRytarySinemetStalevoVyalevLevo-dopa(-)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-L-alanine3,4-Dihydroxy-L-phenylalanineCarbidopa/Entacapone/LevodopaL-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanineL-beta-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)alanineLevodopum
RxNorm CUI
6375
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL1009
ATC codes
N04BA01
UNII
46627O600J
Primary mechanism
Dopamine D3 receptor agonist
Regulatory jurisdictions
emafda

Pharmacology & targets

1 target

Known molecular targets and mechanisms supported by curated pharmacology databases.

AGONISTDopamine D3 receptor agonist

Regulatory timeline

9 events

The complete regulatory record, grouped by authority — approvals, safety advisories and label changes. Each authority shows its most recent events; expand one to read its full history.

Approval / market entry confirmed across FDA and EMA (2018-12-212019-09-19)
Earliest approval
2018-12-21
Latest approval
2022-09-21
Authorities
FDA · EMA
Total events
9
fdaU.S. Food and Drug Administration· 8 events
2026-07-07Label change
Label change: LEVODOPA (NDA209184)
Evidence ↗
2026-06-24Label change
Label change: CARBIDOPA AND LEVODOPA (ANDA216505)
Evidence ↗
2026-03-31Label change
Label change: LEVODOPA (NDA209184)
Evidence ↗
emaEuropean Medicines Agency· 1 event
2019-09-19ApprovalMulti-authority
Approval: Inbrija (EMA)
Indication: Inbrija is indicated for the intermittent treatment of episodic motor fluctuations (OFF episodes) in adult patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) treated with aShow full indication

Inbrija is indicated for the intermittent treatment of episodic motor fluctuations (OFF episodes) in adult patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) treated with a levodopa/dopa-decarboxylase inhibitor.

Evidence ↗

Data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. Food and Drug Administration), public domain (CC0).

Contains information from the European Medicines Agency (European Medicines Agency), © EMA, reused under CC BY 4.0.

Clinical trials

61 trials

The current development programme across all trial phases — status mix, phase distribution and the late-stage studies shaping the evidence base.

Development programme
CLINICALTRIALS.GOV · LIVE REGISTRY
61
registered trials across all phases
LATEST COMPLETION 2026
3
Active studies
3
Recruiting
34
Late-stage (III+)
47
Completed
11
Discontinued
PHASE DISTRIBUTIONn = 61
Phase 14Phase 1 / 21Phase 222Phase 2 / 34Phase 38Phase 414Phase N / A8

Late-stage studies

Phase III+ trials still open or recently active — where late-stage evidence is being generated.

Recent completions

Trials that read out recently, adding to the completed evidence base.

Research activity

9 papers

Key research shaping understanding of this drug, combining the latest publications with the most influential evidence.

Publications over time
20032025
Most influential

The Sydney multicenter study of Parkinson's disease: the inevitability of dementia at 20 years.

Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society · 2008 · 1,556 cites

Levodopa and the progression of Parkinson's disease.

The New England journal of medicine · 2004 · 1,175 cites

Evolving concepts on bradykinesia.

Brain : a journal of neurology · 2020 · 170 cites
Recent papers
Major research themes8
Parkinson Disease3Electric Stimulation Therapy1Gastrointestinal Microbiome1Helicobacter Infections1Helicobacter pylori1Levodopa1Neurodegenerative Diseases1Parkinsonian Disorders1
Journals, researchers & institutions
Top journals
  • Brain : a journal of neurology2
  • The New England journal of medicine2
  • CNS drugs1
  • Molecular and cellular biochemistry1
  • Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society1
  • Nature communications1
Leading researchers
  • Abbigeri MB1
  • Adena MA1
  • Amara AW1
  • Ardouin C1
  • Batir A1
  • Belloso-Iguerategui A1
  • Benabid AL1
  • Benazzouz A1
Leading institutions
free-text, unnormalised
  • Columbia University2
  • Center for Advancing Neurotechnological Innovation to Application (CRANIA)1
  • Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA)1
  • Clinical Neuroproteomics Unit1
  • Columbia University Medical Center1
  • Department of Clinical and Biological Neurosciences1

Related diseases

2 conditions

Regulator-approved indications and conditions co-mentioned with this drug across the research literature. Number shows shared papers.

Approved indications
Active research areas

Related drugs

5 matches

Drugs sharing diseases, protein targets and literature with this one. Ranked by graph evidence (shared targets + diseases weighted above co-mentions).

Studied across 4 of the same disease areas as Levodopa in the shared literature.

4 shared diseases3 shared papers

Studied across 2 of the same disease areas as Levodopa in the shared literature.

2 shared diseases1 shared paper

Studied across the same disease area as Levodopa in the shared literature.

1 shared disease1 shared paper

Studied across the same disease area as Levodopa in the shared literature.

1 shared disease1 shared paper

Studied across the same disease area as Levodopa in the shared literature.

1 shared disease1 shared paper
References & data sources
  • RxNorm (U.S. National Library of Medicine) — drug identity
  • ChEMBL (EMBL-EBI) & UniProt — pharmacology and targets
  • Europe PMC — research literature
  • ClinicalTrials.gov — clinical trials
  • Regulatory event sources are credited in the Regulatory Timeline above.