Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
Inovelon(R) (rufinamide) oral suspension for adjunctive (add-on) treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) in children four years and older is launched today in Spain. As many patients who receive the orphan drug rufinamide are children, the new formulation has been developed as a child friendly drinkable liquid to aid the administration of treatment.
"As some children find tablets difficult to swallow, there is a strong need for drinkable medicines especially when treating younger LGS patients. In addition, the use of the rufinamide oral suspension allows for individual titration in smaller steps to find the optimal dose for each patient", said Dr. Juan Jose Garcia Peas, Neuropediatrician at the Hospital Infantil Universitario Nio Jesus. "The availability of the suspension formulation of rufinamide will potentially help young patients adhere better to treatment which should help improve outcomes in the management of this severe and highly debilitating disease."
LGS is a rare form of epilepsy accounting for five percent of all cases and rising to approximately 10 percent of childhood epilepsy cases.[1] The annual incidence of the condition affects about 2.8 per 10,000 births in Europe.[1] Effective LGS management and compliance to treatment is of key importance to children as the condition is characterised by multiple daily seizures, mental retardation and regression.[2]
"The launch of the new drinkable form of rufinamide in Spain will help address the needs of children and young people with this severe form of epilepsy. Improving treatment compliance is a key factor in helping to reduce seizure frequencies, particularly for young people", said Antonio Rodriguez Gallego, Brand Manager EPBU, Eisai Farmaceutica, S.A. "Eisai is working closely with epilepsy centres in Spain to ensure the new treatment is available to patients as soon as possible. This move is entirely in line with our on-going commitment to the therapeutic area of epilepsy and our drive to increase the benefits provided to patients and their families of our medicines through Eisais human health care (hhc) mission."
The oral suspension is identical in preparation to the currently marketed rufinamide tablet on a milligram per milligram basis. Rufinamide oral suspension received positive CHMP opinion in September 2011 and formal EMA approval was granted in November 2011. The preparation was approved by the FDA and launched in the US in March 2011 (rufinamide is marketed as BANZEL(R) in the US).
The development of an oral drinkable suspension formulation of rufinamide demonstrates Eisais commitment in the therapeutic area of epilepsy and further exemplifies the companys contribution to addressing the diversified needs of and increasing the benefits provided to patients and their families as shown by its human health care (hhc) mission.
About Inovelon(R) (rufinamide)
Rufinamide is a triazole derivative that is structurally unrelated to currently marketed antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). It is believed to regulate the activity of sodium channels in the brain which carry excessive electrical charges. The agent was approved for adjunctive therapy for LGS in Europe (under the brand name Inovelon) in 2007.[3] Inovelon is available as film-coated tablets containing 100mg, 200mg, and 400mg rufinamide.
The film-coated formulation of rufinamide was first launched in Europe in May 2007 and is now available in 19 European countries.
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Inovelon® (rufinamide) Oral Suspension Formulation Launched in Spain