Drug improves epilepsy for people with partial onset seizures

Zebinix, an anti-epileptic drug which is used as an add-on therapy for adult patients with partial-onset seizures has been shown to reduce seizure frequency according to results from a clinical trial presented at the American Epilepsy Society meeting in Houston.

A two-year study included 52 patients with partial onset (focal) seizures across 12 neurology departments in Portugal. Patients were insufficiently controlled with one anti-epileptic drug (AED) and had initiated eslicarbazepine acetate as adjunctive treatment.

The primary endpoint for the trial was the retention rate, defined as the proportion of patients remaining on eslicarbazepine acetate treatment at the end of follow up.

Secondary endpoints included the proportion of responders (patients with at least 50% reduction in seizure frequency compared to baseline), proportion of seizure-free patients and the change in frequency for partial seizures with or without secondary generalisation.

Neurologists found that 42% of patients had a reduction in epilepsy severity and 73% of patients had their epilepsy improved. There were no cases where epilepsy was considered to be worse.

“The study shows that once-daily, adjunctive eslicarbazepine acetate showed good retention rates and elicits a significant reduction in seizure frequency in patients with partial onset seizures not sufficiently controlled with monotherapy.” said Dr João Chaves, neurologist, Santo Antonio Hospital, Centro Hospitalar Porto.

Neil West, vice president, Global Neurology Business Unit, Eisai said: “These data underscore our commitment to support people with epilepsy to better manage their condition and live their lives to the full. We are encouraged by these data and will ensure that eslicarbazepine acetate continues to play an important role in the treatment of epilepsy for the thousands of people in Europe who live with the condition”.