Upsher-Smith Laboratories Begins Phase III Study of Intranasal Midazolam for Rescue Treatment of Seizure Clusters in Epilepsy Patients

MAPLE GROVE, Minn., July 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc. announced today the initiation of a Phase III clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of USL261, an investigational intranasal midazolam, for the rescue treatment of seizures in patients on stable anti-epileptic drug (AED) regimens who require control of intermittent bouts of increased seizure activity, frequently referred to as seizure clusters. USL261 has been granted orphan drug designation for this use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The Phase III randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, ARTEMIS1 ["Acute Rescue Therapy in Epilepsy with Midazolam Intranasal Spray"], will compare intranasal midazolam, a benzodiazepine, with an intranasal placebo in males and females ages 14 to 65 years with a diagnosis of seizure clusters and who have a competent caregiver. The seizure clusters must have a pattern that is different from the individual's other non-cluster seizure activity and must be recognizable by a caregiver. USL261 may allow a caregiver to deliver an appropriate dose of the medication intranasally to an individual who is experiencing an intermittent bout of increased seizure activity. It is intended that this administration will not require an active inhalation by the patient.

The trial will enroll eligible patients with partial or generalized seizures who are on stable AED regimens. USL261 is the subject of a global Phase III clinical trial (ARTEMIS1), being conducted under a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) agreement with the FDA.

For more information on the study, please visit http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01390220?term=NCT01390220&rank=1.

There is a significant need for new therapies to manage intermittent bouts of increased seizure activity, or seizure clusters. Currently, only one medication is FDA-approved for intermittent bouts of increased seizure activity, and it must be delivered rectally.

Seizure clusters are characterized by multiple seizures which occur over a relatively brief period of time - generally within 24 hours for adults and 12 hours for children – with a pattern distinguishable from the usual seizure pattern. (1)  Typically there is recovery between seizures. (2) Estimates of seizure cluster prevalence vary, but it has been estimated that approximately 22% of the intractable epilepsy population (approximately 152,000 people) experience them. (3,4,5,6)

"Seizure clusters put epilepsy patients at higher risk for seizure-related emergency room visits and convulsive status epilepticus, contributing disproportionately to the health system costs associated with the disease," said Jacqueline French, MD, Director of the Clinical Trials Consortium at New York University's Comprehensive Epilepsy Center. "There is a significant need for new therapies in development, such as intranasal midazolam, that may help effectively manage intermittent bouts of increased seizure activity."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that epilepsy in general results in an annual cost of $15.5 billion in medical expenses and lost or reduced earnings and productivity.(7)  More specifically, epilepsy patients with seizure clusters are at risk for seizure-related emergency room visits and convulsive status epilepticus (SE),(8,9) a state of prolonged seizure activity which results in an estimated 42,000 deaths and thousands of instances of brain damage each year.(10)  Missed school and work, as well as greater use of health care resources, are among the socioeconomic effects of seizure clusters.(8)

"The initiation of this Phase III study further affirms Upsher-Smith's commitment to address the unmet needs of the epilepsy community," said Mark Evenstad, CEO, Upsher-Smith. "We are proud to mark this important milestone in our evolving franchise of products in development for conditions affecting the central nervous system, including epilepsy."

Upsher-Smith's Expanding CNS Pipeline

USL's central nervous system (CNS) pipeline includes a number of investigational drug programs. In addition to USL261 (intranasal midazolam), USL is developing an extended-release topiramate (USL255), as a convenient once daily treatment for adult patients with epilepsy. Another program is USL260 (tonabersat), an investigational drug and first-in-class neuronal gap junction modulator which is also a potential treatment for epilepsy.

About Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a medical condition that produces seizures affecting a variety of mental and physical functions.  An estimated three million people in the U.S. have some form of epilepsy with about 200,000 new cases of epilepsy diagnosed each year.(11)

About Seizure Clusters

Seizure clusters, also referred to as acute repetitive seizures, are multiple seizures which occur over a relatively brief period of time – generally within 24 hours in adults and 12 hours in children – with a pattern distinguishable from the usual seizure pattern.(1)   Inadequate treatment of seizure clusters can potentially impact the safety of an epilepsy patient, result in emergency room visits, and evolve into status epilepticus, a potentially life-threatening condition.(8,9,10)   A previous study has suggested that seizure clustering during AED treatment may be associated with poor long-term seizure outcome and mortality.(12)

About Upsher-Smith

Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc., founded in 1919, is a rapidly growing, privately held pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, and markets prescription and consumer products. Upsher-Smith's product portfolio focuses in the areas of women's health, dermatology, cardiology, and CNS diseases. The company's focus is growing a CNS pipeline for diseases with significant unmet need, including epilepsy and Parkinson's disease. To expand its CNS pipeline, Upsher-Smith seeks alliances and co-development programs, pursues licensing and acquisitions, and leverages its core competency in formulation development. For more information, visit www.upsher-smith.com.

References

1) Dreifuss FE, Rosman NP, Cloyd JC, et al. A comparison of rectal diazepam gel and placebo for acute repetitive seizures. N Engl J Med. 1998;338:1869-75.

2) Cereghino JJ. Identification and treatment of acute repetitive seizures in children and adults.
Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2007 Jul;9(4):249-55.

3) Berg AT, Vickrey BG, Testa FM, et al. How long does it take for epilepsy to become intractable? A prospective investigation. Annals of Neurology. 2006;60:73-79.

4) Haut SR, Lipton RB, LeValley AJ, et al. Identifying seizure clusters in patients with epilepsy.
Neurology. 2005 October 25;65(8):1313-1315.

5) Kwan P, Brodie MJ. Early Identification of Refractory Epilepsy. N Engl J Med. 2000;342:314-
319.

6) Kobau R, Zahran H, Thurman DJ, et al. Epilepsy Surveillance Among Adults – 19 States, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2005. MMWR. 2008;57:SS-6.

7) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at:
http://www.cdc.gov/epilepsy/basics/faqs.htm. Accessed May 23, 2011.

8) Haut SR. Seizure clustering. Epilepsy & Behavior. 2006;8:50-55.

9) Mitchell WG. Status epilepticus and acute repetitive seizures in children, adolescents and young adults: etiology, outcome and treatment. Epilepsia. 1996;37(Suppl. 1):S74-80.

10) Epilepsy Foundation. Prolonged or serial seizures (status epilepticus). Available at:
http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/types/types/statusepilepticus.cfm. Accessed May 17,
2011.

11) Epilepsy Foundation. Epilepsy and seizure statistics. Available at:
http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/statistics.cfm. Accessed May 18, 2011.

12) Sillanpaa M, Schmidt D. Seizure clustering during drug treatment affects seizure outcome and mortality of childhood-onset epilepsy. Brain. 2008;131(4):938-944.

SOURCE Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc.