Study results presented at American Epilepsy Society congress show inroads for controlling seizures

PORTO , Portugal Data from three phase 3 studies presented Monday at the American Epilepsy Society congress in Seattle show that Portuguese drug maker BIAL’s Zebinix reduced the frequency of partial seizures and could improve quality of life and depressive symptoms in patients with partial refractory epilepsy when combined with other anti-epileptic drugs.

Zebinix is one of the trade names proposed in the European Union market for the drug, known generically as eslicarbazepine acetate and made in 800 mg and 1,200 mg strengths.

“The impact of epilepsy on quality of life and the development of depression cannot be underestimated,” Yale University School of Medicine research scientist and president of the Epilepsy Therapy Project Joyce Cramer. “We must go beyond seizure control and ensure this is taken into consideration when assessing new treatments for epilepsy.”