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Efficacy and Safety of Eslicarbazepine Acetate as Adjunctive Therapy for Refractory Partial Epilepsy

Efficacy and Safety of BIA 2-093 as Adjunctive Therapy for Refractory Partial Seizures in a Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Parallel-group, Multicenter Clinical Trial

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00957372
Enrollment
253
Registered
2009-08-12
Start date
2004-12-31
Completion date
2008-06-30
Last updated
2014-07-02

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Partial Epilepsy

Keywords

epilepsy

Brief summary

The primary objective was to evaluate the efficacy of eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) administered once daily at 1200 mg or 800 mg, compared with placebo as adjunctive therapy in patients with refractory partial epilepsy over a 12-week maintenance period.

Detailed description

This was a phase III, 2-part multicenter study. Part I was an 26-week parallel-group, randomized, placebo-controlled design consisting of an 8 week baseline period, a 2 week double-blinded titration period, 12 week maintenance period, and a 4 week tapering-off period. After completing the baseline period, patients were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to 1 of the 2 ESL daily dose levels (1200 or 800 mg) or placebo. Part II was a 1-year open-label extension for patients who had completed Part I. Starting at 800 mg/day, the dosage could be titrated at 400 mg intervals down to a minimum of 400 mg/day or up to a maximum of 1200 mg/day. Patients who completed Part II could participate in a study extension and continue treatment with ESL until marketing authorization is obtained or clinical development is discontinued, with visits scheduled at the discretion of the investigator but at least every 6 months. Results from Part I & II were presented in two separate reports.

Interventions

oral tablet, 800 mg or 1200 mg once daily

once daily placebo comparator

DRUGESL - Open-label Extension (Part II)

Part II was a 1-year open-label extension for patients who had completed Part I. Starting at 800 mg/day, the dosage could be titrated at 400 mg intervals down to a minimum of 400 mg/day or up to a maximum of 1200 mg/day

Sponsors

Bial - Portela C S.A.
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* written informed consent signed by patient * aged 18 years or more * documented diagnosis of simple or complex partial seizures with or without secondary generalisation since at least 12 months prior to screening * at least 4 partial seizures in each 4 week period during the last 8 weeks prior to screening, currently treated with 1 or 2 AEDs (any except oxcarbazepine and felbamate), in a stable dose regimen during at least 2 months prior to screening (patients using vigabatrin should have been on this medication for at least 1 year with no deficit in visual field identified) * excepting epilepsy, patient is judged to be in general good health based on medical history, physical examination and laboratory tests * post-menopausal or otherwise incapable of becoming pregnant by reason of surgery or tubal ligation; in case of woman of childbearing potential, patient must present a serum beta-hCG test consistent with a non-gravid state and agree to remain abstinent or use reliable contraception (oral contraception should be combined with a barrier method)

Exclusion criteria

* only simple partial seizures with no motor symptomatology (classified as A2-4 according to the International Classification of Epileptic Seizures) that are not video-EEG documented * primarily generalised epilepsy * known rapid progressive neurological disorder; history of status epilepticus or cluster seizures (i.e., 3 or more seizures within 30 minutes) within the 3 months prior to screening * seizures of psychogenic origin within the last 2 years * history of schizophrenia or suicide attempt * currently on or with exposure to felbamate or oxcarbazepine more within one month of screening * using benzodiazepines on more than on an occasional basis (except when used chronically as AED) * previous use of ESL or participation in a clinical study with ESL * known hypersensitivity to carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine or chemically related substances * history of abuse of alcohol, drugs or medications within the last 2 years * uncontrolled cardiac, renal, hepatic, endocrine, gastrointestinal, metabolic, haematological or oncology disorder * second or third-degree atrioventricular blockade not corrected with a pacemaker * relevant clinical laboratory abnormalities

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Seizure Frequency12 weeksThe primary efficacy endpoint is the natural log transformation of the seizure frequency per 4 weeks. The primary efficacy analysis was based on results for the ITT population during the 12-week maintenance period. Seizure frequency was compared between each active treatment group and the placebo group using an ANCOVA model with treatment as a factor and seizure frequency as a covariate
PART II: Nº of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events (TEAE)1-yearThe primary objective for Part II of the study was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL, BIA 2-093) at doses titrated to an efficacy or safety endpoint over a 1-year open-label period. Safety assessments were based primarily on AEs (Number of participants with at least one treatment-emergent adverse events are reported); assessment of AEs was based on treatment relatedness, action taken on study drug, outcome, and causality.

Countries

Portugal

Participant flow

Recruitment details

Patients were screened at 39 sites in 3 countries. STUDY DATES: PART I: from: 14 Dec 2004 to: 19 Jan 2007 PART II: from 21 June 2005 to 22 January 2008

Pre-assignment details

The duration of Part I was 26 weeks, including the 8-week baseline period. After completing the baseline period, patients were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to 1 of the 2 ESL daily dose levels (1200 or 800 mg) or placebo.Part II was a 1-year open-label extension for patients who had completed Part I

Participants by arm

ArmCount
ESL 1200mg Daily
ESL 1200mg daily eslicarbazepine acetate : oral tablet, 800 mg or 1200 mg once daily
80
ESL 800mg Daily
ESL 800mg daily eslicarbazepine acetate : oral tablet, 800 mg or 1200 mg once daily
85
Placebo
placebo placebo : once daily placebo comparator
88
Total253

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001FG002FG003
PART ILost to Follow-up0010
PART IIAdverse Event00010
PART IINot Know00020
PART IIPatient non-compliance0004
PART IIPhysician Decision0001
PART IIPregnancy0001
PART IIWithdrawal by Subject0008

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicESL 1200mg DailyESL 800mg DailyPlaceboTotal
Age, Customized
<=18 years
2 participants2 participants2 participants6 participants
Age, Customized
>=65 years
2 participants1 participants3 participants6 participants
Age, Customized
Between 18 and 65 years
76 participants82 participants83 participants241 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
45 Participants50 Participants45 Participants140 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
35 Participants35 Participants43 Participants113 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
EG002
affected / at risk
EG003
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —— / —— / —— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
31 / 8741 / 8557 / 8080 / 194
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 870 / 851 / 8011 / 194

Outcome results

Primary

PART II: Nº of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events (TEAE)

The primary objective for Part II of the study was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL, BIA 2-093) at doses titrated to an efficacy or safety endpoint over a 1-year open-label period. Safety assessments were based primarily on AEs (Number of participants with at least one treatment-emergent adverse events are reported); assessment of AEs was based on treatment relatedness, action taken on study drug, outcome, and causality.

Time frame: 1-year

Population: There was no sample size estimate for Part II. Part II was a 1-year open-label extension for patients who had completed Part I and was willing to continue treatment in Part II.

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
PlaceboPART II: Nº of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events (TEAE)112 participants
ESL 800 mgPART II: Nº of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events (TEAE)40 participants
ESL 1200 mgPART II: Nº of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events (TEAE)94 participants
Treatment-related Treatment-emergent Adverse EventPART II: Nº of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events (TEAE)66 participants
TEAE Leading to Discontinuation From the StudyPART II: Nº of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events (TEAE)9 participants
Treatment Emergent Serious Adverse EventPART II: Nº of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events (TEAE)11 participants
TEAE Leading to DeathPART II: Nº of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events (TEAE)2 participants
Primary

Seizure Frequency

The primary efficacy endpoint is the natural log transformation of the seizure frequency per 4 weeks. The primary efficacy analysis was based on results for the ITT population during the 12-week maintenance period. Seizure frequency was compared between each active treatment group and the placebo group using an ANCOVA model with treatment as a factor and seizure frequency as a covariate

Time frame: 12 weeks

Population: The primary efficacy analysis was based on the ITT population.The intent-to-treat (ITT) population included all randomized patients with at least one dose of investigational product and at least one post-baseline seizure frequency assessment

ArmMeasureValue (LEAST_SQUARES_MEAN)
PlaceboSeizure Frequency7.3 ln (Seizures) per 4 weeks
ESL 800 mgSeizure Frequency5.7 ln (Seizures) per 4 weeks
ESL 1200 mgSeizure Frequency5.5 ln (Seizures) per 4 weeks

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026