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New pooled clinical data presented at the 28th International Epilepsy Congress (IEC) in Budapest, Hungary showed that VIMPAT (lacosamide), a new antiepileptic drug (AED) with a novel mode of action, significantly improved seizure control, increased seizure freedom rates during the maintenance phase and enhanced quality of life and patient function, when used as adjunctive therapy in adult patients with uncontrolled partial-onset seizures.
A pooled analysis of all doses from three similarly designed phase II/III trials showed that lacosamide (200 mg, 400 mg, 600 mg/day) significantly reduced partial-onset seizures, compared to placebo when administered with 1-3 AEDs.
Lacosamide provided a dose-dependent increase in efficacy for primary endpoints (partial onset seizure frequency and 50% responder rates) at all doses studied, and for 75% responder rates up to 400 mg/day as a secondary endpoint.
Patients responding to lacosamide (200 mg, 400 mg, 600* mg/day) reported improvements in health status, quality of life and patient function.
“Sixty percent of people living with epilepsy have partial-onset seizures and around one third remain uncontrolled, despite trying treatment with a range of antiepileptic drugs. These studies supported the effectiveness of lacosamide in reducing partial-onset seizures and improving seizure control when added to existing antiepileptic drug regimens in a population where most patients were uncontrolled on two-three AEDs,” said Professor Elinor Ben-Menachem, Professor of Neurology and Epilepsy and Clinical Trial Investigator, Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Goteborg University, Sweden.
In Europe, VIMPAT is indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial-onset seizures with or without secondary generalisation in patients with epilepsy aged 16 years and over. In the US VIMPAT is indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial-onset seizures in patients with epilepsy aged 17 years and older. It is a Schedule V controlled substance in the US.
