Beyond Seizure Control in the Treatment of Epilepsy With New Anti-Epileptic Drug, Z...( PORTO Portugal December 8 /- ...)

PORTO, Portugal, December 8 /PRNewswire/ --

- Data Highlight The Efficacy, Safety and Significant Improvement in Quality of Life and Depressive Symptoms With Zebinix(TM) (Eslicarbazepine Acetate)

Positive data from three phase III studies presented today at the American Epilepsy Society (AES) Congress, Seattle, USA, show that Zebinix(TM)(1) (eslicarbazepine acetate), a novel once-daily anti-epileptic agent, significantly reduced the frequency of partial seizures and has the potential to significantly improve quality of life and depressive symptoms in patients with partial refractory epilepsy, in combination with other anti-epileptic agents.(2),(3),(4)

Zebinix(TM) is one of the proposed EU trade names for eslicarbazepine acetate.

Zebinix(TM) 800mg and 1200mg once-daily significantly reduced the frequency of partial seizures by over one third during the 12 week maintenance period of the studies.(5),(6),(7),(8) In addition, new data presented for the first time at AES demonstrates that the reduction in seizure frequency was sustained over a one-year open-label treatment period. This sustained reduction over one year has now been demonstrated in all three phase III studies for Zebinix(TM).(9),(10),(11)

"The impact of epilepsy on quality of life and the development of depression cannot be underestimated. We must go beyond seizure control and ensure this is taken into consideration when assessing new treatments for epilepsy," said Joyce Cramer, research scientist at Yale University School of Medicine, USA and President of The Epilepsy Therapy Project. "During clinical studies, Zebinix(TM) has demonstrated that in addition to effective seizure control and good tolerability, it also provides significant improvement in quality of life and a reduction in depressive symptoms in long-term follow-up. Zebinix(TM) has the potential to become an important treatment option for
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