UCB Announces Initiation of Phase III Clinical Program for RikeltaTM
(brivaracetam) as Adjunctive Treatment in Partial-Onset Epilepsy
Brussels (BELGIUM), October 26, 2007 at 7:00 am CET - Phase III
clinical trials of UCB's antiepileptic drug (AED) in development,
brivaracetam, are underway, as adjunctive therapy in patients with
refractory partial-onset epilepsy. Rikelta(TM) is the proposed
tradename for brivaracetam.
"The start of the Phase III program for brivaracetam is a key
milestone in the advancement of UCB's epilepsy franchise and
re-enforces our commitment to the development of new treatment
options for people with epilepsy," said Iris Loew-Friedrich, MD, PhD,
Global Head of Development, UCB. "Today up to 30% of patients can be
resistant to current antiepileptic medications and UCB's research and
development programmes aim to support this significant unmet medical
need."
Nearly 1300 epilepsy patients, aged between 16 and 70 years, will
take part in three multicentre, multinational phase III trials. Two
randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies are designed to
evaluate the efficacy and safety of brivaracetam (5, 20 and 50 mg/day
or 20, 50 and 100 mg/day) over 12 weeks in patients with partial
onset epilepsy, not fully controlled despite treatment with one or
two other antiepileptic drugs. The third study is a randomized,
double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with flexible dosing designed
to evaluate the safety and tolerability of brivaracetam in patients
with uncontrolled partial onset or primary generalised seizures.
First results are expected in Q3 2009.
The move to Phase III development follows promising efficacy and
tolerability data for brivaracetam in two phase IIb dose ranging
studies. These trials were conducted in patients with uncontrolled
partial onset seizures despite taking one or two antiepileptic drugs,
and included patients taking Keppra®. Data from these double blind,
randomized, placebo-controlled studies were reported at the 27th
International Epilepsy Congress (IEC) held in Singapore in July
2007.[1],[2]
About brivaracetam [3],[4]
Brivaracetam has distinct pharmacological differences as well as
having some structural similarity to Keppra®. In preclinical studies
brivaracetam was shown to have a 10-fold higher affinity for synaptic
vesicle protein 2A (SV2A) than Keppra®. Brivaracetam also has
inhibitory activity at neuronal voltage-dependent sodium channels
whose abnormal function is understood to contribute to electrical
discharges associated with seizures. These differences may be
important for brivaracetam's antiepileptic activity, clinical
efficacy and tolerability.
About Epilepsy [5],[6]
Epilepsy is the most common chronic serious disorder of the central
nervous system and can affect people of all ages. Over 40 million
people worldwide have epilepsy. It is caused by abnormal, excessive
electric discharges of the nerve cells or neurons in the brain.
Epilepsy is characterized by a tendency to have recurrent seizures
and defined by two or more unprovoked seizures. There are many
different seizure types and epileptic syndromes and effective
classification guides treatment and prognosis.
References
1. French JA, von Rosenstiel P on behalf of the Brivaracetam N01193
Study Group. Efficacy and tolerability of 5, 30 and 50mg/day
brivaracetam (ucb 34714) as adjunctive treatment in adults with
refractory partial-onset seizures. Presented at the 27th
International Epilepsy Congress, Singapore, 8-12 July 2007.
2. van Paesschen W, von Rosenstiel P on behalf of the Brivaracetam
N01114 Study Group. Presented at the 27th International Epilepsy
Congress, Singapore, 8-12 July 2007
3. Kenda BM, Matagne AC, Talaga PE et al. Discovery of 4-substituted
pyrrolidone butanamides as new agents with significant antiepileptic
activity. J Med Chem 2004; 47: 530-549.
4. Zona C, Pieri M, Klitgaard H et al. UCB 34714 (brivaracetam) a new
pyrrolidone derivative inhibits Na2+ currents in rat cortical neurons
in culture. Presented at the 58th Annual Meeting of the American
Epilepsy Society, New Orleans, 2004.
5. European White Paper on Epilepsy
6. http://www.who.int/whr/1997/media_centre/50facts/en/index.html
(Accessed October 9th 2007)
Further information
Antje Witte, Vice-President Corporate Communications & Investor
Relations, UCB Group
T +32.2.559.9414, Antje.witte@ucb-group.com
Mareike Mohr, Associate Director Investor Relations, UCB Group
T +32.2.559.9264, Mareike.mohr@ucb-group.com
About UCB
UCB, Brussels, Belgium (www.ucb-group.com) is a global leader in the
biopharmaceutical industry dedicated to the research, development and
commercialisation of innovative pharmaceutical and biotechnology
products in the fields of central nervous system disorders,
allergy/respiratory diseases, immune and inflammatory disorders and
oncology. UCB focuses on securing a leading position in severe
disease categories. Employing more than 10,000 people in over 40
countries, UCB achieved revenue of 3.5 billion euro in 2006 on a pro
forma basis. UCB S.A. is listed on the Euronext Brussels Exchange
and, through its affiliate, owns approx. 89% of the shares of SCHWARZ
PHARMA AG. SCHWARZ PHARMA AG (Monheim, Germany) is a member of the
UCB Group.
Forward looking statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements based on
current plans, estimates and beliefs of management. Such statements
are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results
to be materially different from those that may be implied by such
forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Important
factors that could result in such differences include: changes in
general economic, business and competitive conditions, effects of
future judicial decisions, changes in regulation, exchange rate
fluctuations and hiring and retention of its employees.
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