RxTrials Institute Drug Pipeline Alert

Three Phase III trials studying Sepracor’s anti-epileptic agent, eslicarbazepine acetate, reduced the frequency of partial seizures in patients with refractory partial epilepsy when combined with other anti-epileptic agents.

The three multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials involved more than 1,000 patients from 23 countries. Patients had a history of at least four partial seizures per month despite treatment with up to three concomitant anti-epileptic drugs.

The drug, at 800 mg and 1,200 mg, reduced seizure frequency over 12 weeks by more than one-third, Sepracor said. The drug had a favorable safety profile as the rate of mild-to-moderate adverse events seen in patients treated with the drug was similar to that of patients taking placebo.