Eisai Announces U.S. Availability of FYCOMPA(TM) (perampanel) CIII an Adjunctive Treatment for Partial-Onset Seizures in Patients with Epilepsy Age 12 and Older

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., Jan. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Eisai Inc. announced today that FYCOMPA™ (perampanel) CIII will be available to eligible patients by prescription in the U.S. beginning January 6, 2014. FYCOMPA is an adjunctive therapy for the treatment of partial-onset seizures with or without secondarily generalized seizures in patients with epilepsy age 12 years and older. FYCOMPA is the first non-competitive AMPA glutamate receptor antagonist to be approved by the FDA.  

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/64835-eisai-fycompa-perampanel-ciii-adjunctive-treatment-partial-onset-seizures

"FYCOMPA offers patients and their physicians a new adjunctive treatment option," said Lonnel Coats, President and Chief Executive Officer, Eisai Inc. "This is important because far too many patients with partial onset seizures continue to have seizures even while on medication."

FYCOMPA was approved by the FDA in October 2012, primarily based on three Phase III studies (304, 305 and 306). These multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group studies evaluated the efficacy and safety of FYCOMPA compared to placebo given as adjunctive therapy in patients age 12 and older with partial-onset seizures. The studies demonstrated that FYCOMPA significantly reduced seizure frequency in patients with partial-onset seizures with or without secondarily generalized seizures.

In the three clinical studies, the most common adverse events (greater than or equal to 4 percent and greater than placebo) in patients treated with FYCOMPA 8 or 12 mg were dizziness, sleepiness, tiredness, irritability, falls, nausea, problems with muscle coordination, problems walking normally, vertigo and weight gain. Serious or life-threatening psychiatric (mental) and behavioral problems were also seen more frequently in patients treated with FYCOMPA. These reactions are described in the Boxed WARNING bolded below and the Important Safety Information.

"We found that these Phase III studies showed a significant reduction in the number of partial-onset seizures in patients that had FYCOMPA added to their treatment regimen," said Lynn Kramer, MD, FAAN, President, Neuroscience & General Medicine, Eisai Product Creation Systems. "The availability of FYCOMPA gives physicians an important new adjunctive treatment option for the care of those patients whose seizures are not controlled by their current medication."

FYCOMPA has been designated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as a federally controlled substance (CIII).

Important Safety Information

Serious Psychiatric and Behavioral Reactions
Hostility- and aggression-related adverse reactions occurred in 12% and 20% of clinical trial patients randomized to receive FYCOMPA at doses of 8 mg and 12 mg/day, respectively, compared to 6% of patients in the placebo group. These effects were dose-related and generally appeared within the first 6 weeks of treatment, although new events continued to be observed through more than 37 weeks. These effects in FYCOMPA-treated patients led to dose reduction, interruption, and discontinuation more frequently than placebo-treated patients. The combination of alcohol and FYCOMPA significantly worsened mood and increased anger. Patients taking FYCOMPA should avoid the use of alcohol. Patients, their caregivers, and families should be informed that FYCOMPA may increase the risk of psychiatric events. Patients should be monitored during treatment and for at least one month after the last dose of FYCOMPA, and especially when taking higher doses and during the initial few weeks of drug therapy (titration period) or at other times of dose increases.

Suicidal Behavior and Ideation
Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), including FYCOMPA, increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior in patients. Anyone considering prescribing FYCOMPA or any other AED must balance the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior with the risk of untreated illness. Epilepsy and many other illnesses for which AEDs are prescribed are themselves associated with morbidity and mortality and an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior. Patients, their caregivers, and families should be informed of the risk and advised to monitor and immediately report the emergence or worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, thoughts about self-harm, and/or any unusual changes in mood or behavior. Should suicidal thoughts or behavior emerge during treatment, consider whether the emergence of these symptoms in any given patient may be related to the illness being treated.

Dizziness and Gait Disturbance
FYCOMPA caused dose-related increases in events related to dizziness and disturbance in gait or coordination. Dizziness and vertigo were reported in 35% and 47% of patients randomized to receive FYCOMPA at doses of 8 mg and 12 mg/day, respectively, compared to 10% of placebo-treated patients. Gait disturbance related events were reported in 12% and 16% of patients randomized to receive FYCOMPA at doses of 8 mg and 12 mg/day, respectively, compared to 2% of placebo-treated patients. These adverse reactions occurred mostly during the titration phase.

Somnolence and Fatigue
FYCOMPA caused dose-dependent increases in somnolence and fatigue-related events. Somnolence was reported in 16% and 18% of patients randomized to receive FYCOMPA at doses of 8 mg and 12 mg/day, respectively, compared to 7% of placebo patients. Fatigue-related events were reported in 12% and 15% of patients randomized to receive FYCOMPA at doses of 8 mg and 12 mg/day, respectively, compared to 5% of placebo patients. In the controlled Phase 3 epilepsy clinical trials, these adverse reactions occurred mostly during the titration phase. Patients should be advised against engaging in hazardous activities requiring mental alertness, such as operating motor vehicles or dangerous machinery, until the effect of FYCOMPA is known.

Falls
Falls were reported in 5% and 10% of patients randomized to receive FYCOMPA at doses of 8 mg and 12 mg/day, respectively, compared to 3% of placebo-treated patients.

Withdrawal of AEDs
A gradual withdrawal is generally recommended with antiepileptic drugs to minimize the potential of increased seizure frequency.

Most Common Adverse Reactions
In clinical trials, the most frequently reported dose-related adverse reactions in patients receiving FYCOMPA 8 mg or 12 mg vs placebo (greater than or equal to 4% and at least 1% higher than the placebo group) included dizziness (36% vs 9%), somnolence (16% vs 7%), fatigue (10% vs 5%), irritability (9% vs 3%), falls (7% vs 3%), nausea (7% vs 5%), ataxia (5% vs 0%), balance disorder (4% vs 1%), gait disturbance (4% vs 1%), vertigo (4% vs 1%), and weight gain (4% vs 1%).

Drug Interactions
FYCOMPA may decrease the efficacy of contraceptives containing levonorgestrel. Plasma levels of FYCOMPA were decreased when administered with carbamazepine, phenytoin and oxcarbazepine. Concomitant use with strong CYP3A inducers such as St. John's wort and rifampin should be avoided. Multiple dosing of FYCOMPA 12 mg/day enhanced the effects of alcohol on vigilance and alertness, and increased levels of anger, confusion, and depression. These effects may also be seen when FYCOMPA is used in combination with other CNS depressants.

Pregnancy Category C and Lactation
FYCOMPA should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Physicians are advised to recommend that pregnant patients taking FYCOMPA enroll in the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) Pregnancy Registry. Caution should be exercised when FYCOMPA is administered to a nursing woman.

Hepatic and Renal Impairment
Use in patients with severe hepatic or severe renal impairment is not recommended. Dosage adjustments are recommended in patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment. Use with caution in patients with moderate renal impairment.

Drug Abuse and Dependence
FYCOMPA is a Schedule III controlled drug substance and has the potential to be abused or lead to drug dependence.

Please see the FYCOMPA (perampanel) CIII Full Prescribing Information

About Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a medical condition that produces seizures affecting a variety of mental and physical functions. According to the Institute of Medicine, epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders, affecting 2.2 million people in the United States. About 60 percent of people with epilepsy have partial-onset seizures. In about 25 to 30 percent of patients with epilepsy, seizures cannot be controlled with treatment.

About FYCOMPA (perampanel)
FYCOMPA is an oral medication and is the first FDA-approved non-competitive AMPA (alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid) glutamate receptor antagonist. Glutamate is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. The precise mechanism by which FYCOMPA exerts its antiepileptic effects in humans has not been fully elucidated.

Discovered and developed by Eisai, FYCOMPA has been approved in more than 30 countries.

FYCOMPA will be supplied as 2 mg, 4 mg, 6 mg, 8 mg, 10 mg and 12 mg film-coated tablets.

Epilepsy is a therapeutic area of focus for Eisai. The company continues to make further contributions to help address the diversified needs of epilepsy patients and their families as part of its corporate human health care (hhc) mission.

Eisai Inc.
At Eisai Inc., human health care is our goal. We give our first thoughts to patients and their families. As the U.S. pharmaceutical subsidiary of Tokyo-based Eisai Co., Ltd., our passionate commitment to patient care is the driving force. We are a fully integrated pharmaceutical business with discovery, clinical, manufacturing and marketing capabilities. Our key areas of commercial focus include oncology and specialty care (Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy and metabolic disorders). To learn more about Eisai Inc., please visit us at www.eisai.com/US. 

Eisai Inc. has affiliates that are part of a global product creation organization that includes R&D facilities in Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, as well as a global demand chain organization that includes manufacturing facilities in Maryland and North Carolina. Eisai's global areas of R&D focus include neuroscience; oncology; metabolic disorders; vascular, inflammatory and immunological reaction; and antibody-based programs.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/64835-eisai-fycompa-perampanel-ciii-adjunctive-treatment-partial-onset-seizures

SOURCE Eisai Inc.