New data from two studies of Fycompa (perampanel) for epilepsy-Eisai

New data from two studies demonstrate the efficacy and safety of once-daily anti-epilepsy treatment Fycompa (perampanel), from Eisai, in the adjunctive treatment of people with partial onset seizures (POS) and primary generalised tonic-clonic (PGTC) seizures. Interim analyses of a multi-centre, retrospective, one-year, observational FYDATA study in a real-life setting for people (n=111) with highly refractory POS demonstrated that nearly one in 10 (9%) of those on a mean dose of 5.4mg perampanel achieved seizure freedom and a >50% reduction in seizures was observed in 44%. Perampanel was found to be well tolerated at the three month analyses and adverse events were consistent with those previously reported for perampanel and include irritability (14%), somnolence (11%) and dizziness (10%).

A second study assessed the efficacy and safety of perampanel for PGTC seizures in people 12 years or older (n=164). Results from this randomised study show that the 50% PGTC seizure responder rate was significantly improved (P=0.0019) for patients receiving perampanel (64%) versus placebo (40%). Significantly, during the 13-week maintenance phase of the study almost a third (31%) of those randomised to perampanel were free of PGTC seizures versus only 12% for patients randomised to placebo. Perampanel treatment was well tolerated and the most common adverse events were consistent with the known profile of perampanel. These studies will be presented at the annual meeting of the Association of British Neurologists.