UCB announces first presentation of primary data from latest Phase 3 study evaluating brivaracetam as adjunctive treatment of partial-onset seizures in epilepsy

BRUSSELS, Dec. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Today UCB announced the primary efficacy and safety data from the latest Phase 3 study evaluating brivaracetam (fixed doses of 100 and 200 mg/day with no up-titration) as adjunctive treatment in adult epilepsy patients with partial-onset seizures.¹ This study with brivaracetam represents the largest Phase 3 study conducted in epilepsy patients with partial-onset seizures. Brivaracetam is an investigational antiepileptic drug (AED) and is not approved by any regulatory authority worldwide.

This study showed statistical significance for the two primary endpoints (p<0.001 for brivaracetam 100 and 200 mg/day). The primary efficacy endpoint in the US was the percent reduction in partial-onset seizure frequency per 28 days over placebo. The primary efficacy endpoint in the EU was the responder rate, i.e., the proportion of patients showing a 50% or greater reduction in partial-onset seizure frequency. The most frequent treatment-emergent adverse events were somnolence, dizziness and fatigue.  Data was presented at the 68th Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society in Seattle, Wash. (5-9 December 2014).¹

"Improving the lives of people with epilepsy and addressing unmet medical needs is a priority for UCB. In our latest study, brivaracetam used as adjunctive therapy significantly reduced partial-onset seizure frequency for many patients. Over 80% of patients in this study had a history of taking two or more AEDs and almost half had a history of taking five or more AEDs," said Professor Dr. Iris Loew-Friedrich, Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President UCB.  "We are now focused on the next important step for brivaracetam with applications to US and EU regulatory authorities planned for early 2015."

"This first presentation of primary study results from the latest Phase 3 brivaracetam study is anticipated by the epilepsy community. The two primary outcomes in this study evaluating adjunctive brivaracetam in the treatment of partial-onset seizures in adults with epilepsy were statistically significant and clinically relevant," said Dr. Pavel Klein, Director, Mid-Atlantic Epilepsy and Sleep Center, Bethesda, MD.

Efficacy results¹

• Both brivaracetam doses (100 and 200 mg/day) demonstrated statistically significant percent reductions in partial-onset seizure frequency per 28 days over placebo (22.8% [n=252] and 23.2% [n=249] for 100 and 200 mg/day, respectively, p<0.001)
• The 50% responder rate for brivaracetam 100 and 200 mg/day were 38.9% (98/252) and 37.8% (94/249), compared with 21.6% (56/259) for placebo, p<0.001 for both dose arms. The odds ratios vs. placebo were 2.39 (95% Confidence Interval: 1.6,3.6) and 2.19 (95% Confidence Interval:1.5,3.3) for brivaracetam 100 and 200 mg/day, respectively

Safety results¹

• Treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 68.4% (173/253) and 66.8% (167/250) of patients in the brivaracetam 100 and 200 mg/day groups, respectively, and in 59.4% (155/261) of patients in the placebo group
• The most commonly reported adverse events (greater than or equal to 5%) for the combined brivaracetam groups (n=503) and the placebo group (n=261) were somnolence (18.1% vs. 7.7%), dizziness (12.3% vs. 5.0%), fatigue (9.5% vs. 3.8%) and headache (7.4% vs. 8.4%)
• Study-discontinuation rates (for any reason) were 11.4% and 10.4 % for brivaracetam 100 and 200 mg/day, respectively, vs. 6.5% for placebo

About the Phase 3 study¹

This Phase 3, multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study enrolled adults (greater than or equal to 16-80 years) with refractory partial-onset seizures whether or not secondary generalized, and not fully controlled despite treatment with one or two concomitant AEDs. In the study, 768 epilepsy patients with partial-onset seizures, were randomized (1:1:1) to adjunctive brivaracetam (100 or 200 mg/day) or placebo for a 12-week Treatment Period after having completed an 8-week prospective Baseline Period. Patients taking levetiracetam, either as concomitant antiepileptic drug or within 90 days prior to Visit 1 were excluded. The primary efficacy outcome in the US was the percent reduction over placebo in 28-day adjusted partial-onset seizure frequency. The primary endpoint in the EU was the 50% responder rate based on percent reduction in partial-onset seizure frequency from Baseline to end of the Treatment Period.

NOTES TO EDITORS

About brivaracetam and the clinical development program

Discovered and developed by UCB, brivaracetam is a selective synaptic vesicle protein 2A ligand.^2,3 The phase 3 clinical development plan for brivaracetam consisted of the following studies:                

N01252: an evaluation of the efficacy and safety/tolerability of adjunctive brivaracetam 20, 50, and 100 mg/day compared with placebo over 12 weeks, in 399 randomized patients (greater than or equal to 16 to 70 years) with partial-onset seizures not fully controlled despite treatment with 1-2 concomitant AEDs.⁴

N01253: an evaluation of the efficacy and safety/tolerability of adjunctive brivaracetam at doses of 5, 20, and 50 mg/day compared with placebo over 12 weeks, in 400 randomized patients (greater than or equal to 16 to 70 years) with partial-onset seizures, not fully controlled despite treatment with 1-2 concomitant AEDs.⁵

N01254: an evaluation of the safety and tolerability of adjunctive brivaracetam given at individualized tailored doses between 20 and 150 mg/day, compared with placebo over 16 weeks, in 480 randomized patients (greater than or equal to 16 to 70 years) with uncontrolled epilepsy (up to 20% could be patients with generalized epilepsy), not fully controlled despite treatment with 1-3 concomitant AEDs.⁶

N01358: an evaluation of the efficacy and safety of adjunctive brivaracetam 100 and 200 mg/day compared with placebo over 12 weeks in 768 randomized patients (greater than or equal to 16 to 80 years) with partial-onset seizures, not fully controlled despite treatment with 1-2 concomitant AEDs.¹

About Epilepsy^7-9

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder affecting approximately 65 million people worldwide and more than 2 million people in the US. It is the fourth most common neurological disorder in the US.  Although epilepsy may be linked to factors such as health conditions, race and age, it can develop in anyone at any age. In the US, approximately 1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy in their lifetime.

It is considered to be a disease of the brain defined by any of the following conditions: (1) at least two unprovoked (or reflex) seizures occurring >24 hours apart; (2) one unprovoked (or reflex) seizure and a probability of further seizures similar to the general recurrence risk (at least 60%) after two unprovoked seizures, occurring over the next 10 years; (3) diagnosis of an epilepsy syndrome.

About UCB in Epilepsy

UCB has a rich heritage in epilepsy with over 20 years of experience in the research and development of antiepileptic drugs. As a company with a long-term commitment to epilepsy research our goal is to address unmet medical needs. Our scientists are proud to contribute to advances in the understanding of epilepsy and its treatment. We partner and create super-networks with world-leading scientists and clinicians in academic institutions, pharmaceutical companies and other organizations who share our goals. At UCB, we are inspired by patients and driven by science in our commitment to support patients with epilepsy.

For further information

 References

About UCB
UCB, Brussels, Belgium (www.ucb.com) is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people living with severe diseases of the immune system or of the central nervous system. With more than 8500 people in approximately 40 countries, the company generated revenue of € 3.4 billion in 2013. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB). Follow us on Twitter: @UCB_news

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