Major Advance In UCB Pipeline: Positive Topline Phase 3 Results For brivaracetam In Epilepsy Patients With Partial-Onset Seizures
Major advance in UCB pipeline: positive topline Phase 3 results for brivaracetam in epilepsy patients with partial-onset seizures
Brussels (Belgium), 23rd July 2014 – 0700 (CEST) – regulated information – UCB today announced an important advance in its research and development pipeline with positive topline results from the latest Phase 3 study with brivaracetam. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of brivaracetam (100 and 200 mg/day, without titration) compared to placebo, as adjunctive treatment in adult focal epilepsy patients with partial-onset seizures, not fully controlled despite treatment with one or two concomitant antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).2
Results showed that brivaracetam reduced partial-onset seizure frequency and improved responder rates, both with statistical significance. The most commonly reported adverse events were somnolence, dizziness, fatigue and headache.3
“Today’s positive results with brivaracetam represent a significant milestone in our strategy to deliver new treatment options for people with severe diseases. As the newest product to emerge from our late-stage pipeline, brivaracetam is leading the way for UCB’s new era of patient-centric solutions,” said Jean-Christophe Tellier, CEO-Elect, UCB. “We are proud to provide AED options for the epilepsy community today, and remain committed to addressing the unmet needs of adult patients who continue to experience uncontrolled seizures.”
“The positive data from the most recent Phase 3 study demonstrated robust and clinically relevant seizure reduction in predominantly treatment resistant patients, and tolerability was consistent with previous brivaracetam trials4-6,” said Professor Dr. Iris Loew Friedrich, Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President, UCB. “This study was the largest Phase 3 study conducted in epilepsy patients with partial-onset seizures. Overall, the brivaracetam development program has involved over 3,000 people and offers over eight years of clinical experience with some patients.1 We look forward to discussing the data with the regulatory authorities and the scientific community.”
Based on the results of the brivaracetam Phase 3 program, UCB plans to submit a New Drug Application to the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and a Marketing Authorization Application to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in early 2015.
This Phase 3 study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre, parallel-group study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adjunctive brivaracetam (100 and 200 mg/day) compared to placebo, over a 12-week treatment period, in 768 randomized focal epilepsy patients (aged 16 to 80 years) with partial-onset seizures, not fully controlled despite treatment with one or two concomitant AEDs.2,7 The primary endpoint for the European regulatory authorities is the 50% responder rate for partial-onset seizure frequency compared with placebo, over the treatment period standardized to a 28-day duration. The primary endpoint for the FDA is the percent reduction over placebo for partial-onset seizure frequency, over the treatment period standardized to a 28-day duration.2 Detailed data from this study will be submitted for presentation at upcoming epilepsy congresses and for publications in peer-reviewed journals.
About brivaracetam and the Phase 3 clinical development program
Discovered and developed by UCB, brivaracetam is a highly selective synaptic vesicle protein 2A ligand.8,9
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 (?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 (?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 (=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 (=16 to 80 years) with partial-onset seizures, not fully controlled despite treatment with 1-2 concomitant AEDs.2,7
About Epilepsy10,11,12
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder affecting approximately 65 million people worldwide. 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.
Although epilepsy may be linked to factors such as health conditions, race and age, it can develop in anyone at any age, and approximately 1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy in their lifetime.
Partial seizures begin with an electrical discharge in one area of the brain. Different things can cause partial seizures, for example head injury, brain infection, stroke, tumour, and changes in the way an area of the brain was formed before birth, called cortical dysplasias. Many times, no known cause is found, but genetic factors may be important in some partial seizures
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
• Antje Witte, Investor Relations, UCB
T +32.2.559.9414