Once-daily monotherapy is not inferior to twice-daily treatment in epilepsy, notes study

Data, recently published in the journal Epilepsia, has demonstrated once-daily monotherapy, Zebinix (esclicarbazeptine acetate), is non-inferior to twice-daily controlled released carbamazepine in the treatment of newly diagnosed focal epilepsy patients.

The Phase III study, which included 815 patients, met its primary endpoint of non-inferiority compared with the standard of care treatment in the proportion of patients who were seizure-free for the study period of 26-weeks. Additionally, the monotherapy was found to be well-tolerated.

“For this patient population in particular, it is important that the physician takes into consideration individual factors and tailors treatment to the individual. We therefore welcome the news that another treatment has been shown to be effective for these patients, especially one with an easy to use once-daily formulation that has the potential to improve adherence,” commented Eugen Trinka, lead author of the study, professor and chair, Department of Neurology, and medical director Christian Doppler Klinik, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.

Eslicarbazepine acetate is a voltage-gated sodium channel blocker, which selectively targets the slow inactivated state of the sodium ion channel. It is indicated in Europe as a monotherapy in the treatment of partial-onset seizures, with or without secondary generalisation, in adults with newly diagnosed epilepsy. Additionally, it is indicated in Europe as adjunctive therapy in adults, adolescents and children aged above 6 years, with partial-onset seizures with or without secondary generalisation.

Currently, eslicarbazepine acetate is marketed in Europe and Russia by Bial and by its licensee, Eisai Europe, under the trade name Zebinix or Exalief.