Novel, anti-epilepsy treatment Exalief will soon be available in Russia. (Exalief is also marketed under the trade name Zebinix in Europe). Once-daily eslicarbazepine acetate is indicated in Europe as adjunctive therapy in adults with partial onset seizures, with or without secondary generalisation.[1]
"Eslicarbazepine acetate will provide doctors with a new, easy to titrate, adjunctive therapy with a beneficial safety profile to help those with inadequately controlled partial onset epilepsy to improve their condition. Approximately one third of people with epilepsy do not achieve adequate control of epileptic seizures whilst taking their first antiepileptic drug, so there is a continued need for additional effective options," commented Professor Pavel Vlasov, Neurology and Neurosurgery department at the Moscow State University of Medicine and Stomatology.
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions in the world.[2] Around three out of every 1,000 people in Russia live with the condition, 82% of which have partial epilepsy.[3] Despite many anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) available, the successful treatment of partial onset seizures remains a significant challenge in some patients. Currently, between 20-40% of patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy will become refractory to treatment.[4]
Eslicarbazepine acetate, a sodium channel blocker that differentially and selectively targets slow inactivated sodium channels, was approved by the European Commission in 2009 based on data submitted which showed that it reduces seizure frequency by up to 45% in patients with partial epilepsy.[5],[6],[7] Long-term studies also show that up to 18% of patients achieved seizure freedom with eslicarbazepine acetate,[8],[9] while a phase IV study (n=254) demonstrated that 48% of patients became seizure free and 82% of patients stayed on treatment over a six month period when Exalief was prescribed as a first-line adjunctive treatment.[10] A long-term open-label extension study demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in quality of life from baseline, including seizure worry, energy/fatigue, medication effects and cognitive and social function.[9] Eslicarbazepine acetate also shows a maintained activity in human tissue in which resistance to carbamazepine is observed.[11]
"We are delighted that once-daily Exalief will soon be launched in Russia and will provide an effective and well tolerated alternative treatment to help people with epilepsy manage their seizures. Eisai is committed to provide effective treatments to patients to help improve their quality of life, as underscored by our human health care mission," commented Olga Konopleva, Managing Director, Eisai Russia.
The continued development of eslicarbazepine acetate underscores Eisai's human health care (hhc) mission, the company's commitment to innovative solutions in disease prevention, cure and care for the health and wellbeing of people worldwide. Eslicarbazepine acetate is already available in Albania*, Austria, Czech Republic, Cyprus*, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Malta*, Norway, Portugal*, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Sweden, Finland, Spain (co-promotion with BIAL, the developer of eslicarbazepine acetate), Wales and the U.S**.
*Exclusively by BIAL
**Eslicarbazepine acetate is sold in the U.S. under the trade name APTIOM
Notes to Editors
Zebinix is the EU trade name for eslicarbazepine acetate
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Exalief (Eslicarbazepine Acetate) Soon to be Available in Russia as a Once Daily Adjunctive Treatment of Partial Onset ...