Dataset Information

Results From an Italian Expanded Access Program on Cannabidiol Treatment in Highly Refractory Dravet Syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome.

ABSTRACT: Background: Purified cannabidiol (CBD) was administered to highly refractory patients with Dravet (DS) or Lennox-Gastaut (LGS) syndromes in an ongoing expanded access program (EAP). Herein, we report interim results on CBD safety and seizure outcomes in patients treated for a 12-month period. Material and Methods: Thirty centers were enrolled from December 2018 to December 2019 within the open-label prospective EAP up to a maximum of 25 mg/kg per day. Adverse effects and liver function tests were assessed after 2 weeks; 1, 3, and 6 months of treatment; and periodically thereafter. Seizure endpoints were the percentage of patients with ≥50 and 100% reduction in seizures compared to baseline. Results: A total of 93 patients were enrolled and included in the safety analysis. Eighty-two patients [27 (32.9%) DS, 55 (67.1%) LGS] with at least 3 months of treatment have been included in the effectiveness analysis; median previously failed antiseizure medications was eight. Pediatric and adult patients were uniformly represented in the cohort. At 3-month follow-up, compared to the 28-day baseline period, the percentage of patients with at least a 50% reduction in seizure frequency was 40.2% (plus 1.2% seizure-free). Retention rate was similar according to diagnosis, while we found an increased number of patients remaining under treatment in the adult group. CBD was mostly coadministered with valproic acid (62.2%) and clobazam (41.5%). In the safety dataset, 29 (31.2%) dropped out: reasons were lack of efficacy [16 (17.2%)] and adverse events (AEs) [12 (12.9%)], and one met withdrawal criteria (1.1%). Most reported AEs were somnolence (22.6%) and diarrhea (11.9%), followed by transaminase elevation and loss of appetite. Conclusions: CBD is associated with improved seizure control also in a considerable proportion of highly refractory patients with DS and LGS independently from clobazam use. Overall, CBD safety and effectiveness are not dose-related in this cohort.

SUBMITTER: Iannone LF

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8173151 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Results From an Italian Expanded Access Program on Cannabidiol Treatment in Highly Refractory Dravet Syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome.

Iannone Luigi Francesco LF Arena Gabriele G Battaglia Domenica D Bisulli Francesca F Bonanni Paolo P Boni Antonella A Canevini Maria Paola MP Cantalupo Gaetano G Cesaroni Elisabetta E Contin Manuela M Coppola Antonietta A Cordelli Duccio Maria DM Cricchiuti Giovanni G De Giorgis Valentina V De Leva Maria Fulvia MF De Rinaldis Marta M d'Orsi Giuseppe G Elia Maurizio M Galimberti Carlo Andrea CA Morano Alessandra A Granata Tiziana T Guerrini Renzo R Lodi Monica A M MAM La Neve Angela A Marchese Francesca F Masnada Silvia S Michelucci Roberto R Nosadini Margherita M Pilolli Nicola N Pruna Dario D Ragona Francesca F Rosati Anna A Santucci Margherita M Spalice Alberto A Pietrafusa Nicola N Striano Pasquale P Tartara Elena E Tassi Laura L Papa Amanda A Zucca Claudio C Russo Emilio E Mecarelli Oriano O

Frontiers in neurology 20210520

<b>Background:</b> Purified cannabidiol (CBD) was administered to highly refractory patients with Dravet (DS) or Lennox-Gastaut (LGS) syndromes in an ongoing expanded access program (EAP). Herein, we report interim results on CBD safety and seizure outcomes in patients treated for a 12-month period. <b>Material and Methods:</b> Thirty centers were enrolled from December 2018 to December 2019 within the open-label prospective EAP up to a maximum of 25 mg/kg per day. Adverse effects and liver func ...[more]

PMID: 34093420

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Project description:BackgroundCannabidiol (CBD), which is one major constituent of the Cannabis sativa plant, has anti-seizure properties and does not produce euphoric or intrusive side effects. A plant-derived, highly purified CBD formulation with a known and constant composition has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of seizures associated with Dravet syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and tuberous sclerosis complex. In the European Union, the drug has been authorized by the European Medicines Agency for the treatment of seizures associated with Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, in conjunction with clobazam, and is under regulatory review for the treatment of seizures in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex.ObjectivesThis systematic review aimed to summarize the currently available body of knowledge about the use of this US Food and Drug Administration/European Medicines Agency-approved oral formulation of pharmaceutical-grade CBD in patients with epileptic conditions, especially developmental and epileptic encephalopathies other than Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.MethodsThe relevant studies were identified through MEDLINE and the US National Institutes of Health Clinical Trials Registry in October 2020. There were no date limitations or language restrictions. The following types of studies were included: clinical trials, cohorts, case-control, cross-sectional, clinical series, and case reports. Participants had to meet the following criteria: any sex, any ethnicity, any age, diagnosis of epilepsy, receiving plant-derived, highly purified (> 98% w/w) CBD in a sesame oil-based oral solution for the treatment of seizures. Data extracted from selected records included efficacy, tolerability, and safety outcomes.ResultsFive hundred and seventy records were identified by database and trial register searching. Fifty-seven studies were retrieved for detailed assessment, of which 42 were eventually included for the review. The participants of the studies included patients of both pediatric and adult age. Across the trials, purified CBD was administered at dosages up to 50 mg/kg/day. In a randomized double-blind controlled trial in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex, CBD was associated with a significantly greater percent reduction in seizure frequency than placebo over the treatment period. Open-label studies suggested the effectiveness of CBD in the treatment of children and adults presenting with other epilepsy syndromes than those addressed by regulatory trials, including CDKL5 deficiency disorder and Aicardi, Dup15q, and Doose syndromes, SYNGAP1 encephalopathy, and epilepsy with myoclonic absences. The most common adverse events observed during treatment with CBD included somnolence, decreased appetite, diarrhea, and increased serum aminotransferases.ConclusionsThe currently available data suggest that response to treatment with a highly purified, plant-derived CBD oil-based solution can be seen in patients across a broad range of epilepsy disorders and etiologies. The existing evidence can provide preliminary support for additional research.

Project description:ObjectivePatients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) who completed 1 of 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of add-on cannabidiol (CBD) (GWPCARE3, NCT02224560 or GWPCARE4, NCT02224690) were invited to enroll in an open-label extension (OLE) study evaluating the long-term safety and efficacy of CBD (GWPCARE5, NCT02224573). Herein we present an interim analysis of the safety, efficacy, and patient-reported outcomes from this trial.MethodsPatients received a pharmaceutical formulation of highly purified CBD oral solution (Epidiolex; 100 mg/mL), titrated from 2.5 to 20 mg/kg/d over a 2-week titration period, in addition to their existing medications. Doses could be reduced if not tolerated or increased up to 30 mg/kg/d if thought to be of benefit.ResultsThis interim analysis was based on a November 2016 data cut. Of 368 patients who completed treatment in GWPCARE3 and GWPCARE4, 366 (99.5%) enrolled in the OLE study (GWPCARE5). Median treatment duration was 38 weeks at a mean modal dose of 23 mg/kg/d. Most patients (92.1%) experienced adverse events (AEs), primarily of mild (32.5%) or moderate (43.4%) severity. The most common AEs were diarrhea (26.8%), somnolence (23.5%), and convulsion (21.3%). Thirty-five patients (9.6%) discontinued treatment due to AEs. Liver transaminase elevations were reported in 37 patients (10.1%), of whom 29 were receiving concomitant valproic acid; 34 cases resolved spontaneously or with dose modification of CBD or concomitant medication. Median reduction from baseline in drop seizure frequency (quantified monthly over 12-week periods) ranged from 48% to 60% through week 48. Median reduction in monthly total seizure frequency ranged from 48% to 57% across all 12-week periods through week 48. Eighty-eight percent of patients/caregivers reported an improvement in the patient's overall condition per the Subject/Caregiver Global Impression of Change scale.SignificanceIn this study, long-term add-on CBD treatment had an acceptable safety profile in patients with LGS and led to sustained reductions in seizures.

Project description:Background: Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) and Dravet syndrome (DS) are severe, treatment-refractory, epileptic encephalopathies that often develop in infancy or early childhood. Since December 1, 2022, plant-derived highly purified cannabidiol (CBD) medicine (Epidyolex®; 100 mg/mL oral solution) has been reimbursed in the Netherlands for the adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with LGS or DS. Objective: To estimate the cost-effectiveness of CBD plus usual care vs usual care alone in patients with LGS or DS in the Netherlands. Methods: A cohort-based Markov model from a Dutch societal perspective, based on seizure frequency and seizure-free days, was developed for patients receiving CBD plus usual care (antiseizure medications, including clobazam) or usual care alone. Population characteristics, clinical inputs, and utility values were sourced from CBD clinical trials and quality-of-life studies. Drug acquisition, disease management, adverse events, and societal costs from published literature were included. A 2019/2020 price year in euros was used. The model used a mean dosage of 12 mg/kg/day, a lifetime (90-year) horizon, and a 3-month cycle length. Discount rates of 4.0% and 1.5% per annum were applied to costs and outcomes, respectively. Uncertainty was explored through deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. Results: In patients with LGS, CBD plus usual care led to additional costs of €28 338 and increased quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) of 1.318 compared with usual care alone. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of €21 493/QALY in LGS is below the willingness-to-pay threshold of €80 000/QALY in the Netherlands. In patients with DS, CBD plus usual care dominated usual care alone, with cost savings of €23 642 and increased QALYs of 0.868. The probability that CBD plus usual care is cost-effective in the Netherlands compared with usual care alone is 96% and 99% in patients with LGS and DS, respectively. Discussion: Elicitation methods were used to address data gaps in model inputs (eg, healthcare resource utilization and utilities); Dutch clinical experts, sensitivity, and scenario analyses validated this approach. Conclusions: Based on a willingness-to-pay threshold of €80 000, the base case cost-utility analysis demonstrated the cost-effectiveness of CBD plus usual care in patients with treatment-refractory LGS or DS aged 2 years or older in the Netherlands.

Project description:BackgroundDravet syndrome (DS) and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) are rare, severe, childhood-onset developmental and epileptic encephalopathies characterized by treatment-resistant epilepsy and varying intellectual disability levels. Clinical outcome assessments (COAs) describe how patients feel, function, or survive, thus providing valuable information on a therapy's efficacy and impact. Individuals with DS or LGS are heterogeneous, and many have limited verbal abilities and intellectual disability. Existing epilepsy-specific COA measures are unsuitable for DS and LGS clinical trials as many items demonstrate floor effects in these populations. As patients often cannot self-report symptoms, caregiver feedback on the measures' relevance and understandability is critical when developing COAs to ensure their suitability for the intended population, and that caregivers can help clinicians complete the measures when necessary.MethodologyWe aimed to develop a novel clinician-reported outcomes measure, to be completed in consultation with caregivers at clinic visits, to assess non-seizure symptoms in individuals with DS or LGS using a Clinical Global Impression of Improvement (CGI-I) approach: the CGI-I Non-seizure Symptoms measure. A 13-item initial draft measure was reviewed by experts in a three-round Delphi panel to confirm each item's relevance and refine descriptions, reduce overlap, and limit respondent burden.ResultsFollowing panel review, three items reached consensus (≥70% agreement of no revision required) and were included in the final measure: communication, alertness, and disruptive behaviors. To ensure caregivers can help clinicians complete the measure, and to establish levels of change in each item domain considered meaningful from their perspective, the three-item measure was cognitively debriefed with caregivers of individuals with DS or LGS. Caregivers showed that each item was understandable by describing their child using the descriptions provided in the measure and reported that items were relevant or important to assess in DS or LGS. Most caregivers reported that even a minimal change to their child's condition in each domain would be meaningful to them and their child.ConclusionsThis CGI-I Non-seizure Symptoms measure represents relevant non-seizure outcomes considered important to individuals with DS or LGS and their families. The systematic development and refinement approach presented here supports its use in DS and LGS clinical trials.

Project description:ObjectiveTo develop cohort definitions and algorithms that can be applied to a range of real-world retrospective data sources in the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, China, and Japan to identify patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) or Dravet syndrome (DS) to aid future research.MethodsThe study was conducted in 3 stages. A targeted literature review was used to identify retrospective healthcare database studies identifying LGS or DS populations and develop overall draft cohort definitions and algorithms. Country-specific research explored the diagnosis codes and antiseizure medications (ASMs) with available indications for LGS or DS, with the findings used to adapt the cohort definitions and algorithms to country-specific settings. Physician interviews were conducted to validate and refine the draft country-specific cohort definitions and algorithms, and better understand the diagnosis and treatment of patients with LGS and DS in each country.ResultsForty-eight publications were reviewed; 25 focused on LGS only and 14 on DS only. LGS-specific and DS-specific diagnosis codes were identified in the United States, Spain, and United Kingdom; local codes in France, China, and Japan; and no LGS-specific or DS-specific diagnosis codes in Germany or Italy. ASMs only indicated for LGS or DS were available across all countries except China. Multiple seizure types, developmental delay, and intellectual disabilities were considered by the physicians to be key diagnostic features. The country-specific definitions for all 3 approaches (specific diagnostic codes, ASM indicated for LGS or DS only, and broader epilepsy diagnostic codes) were refined further using consensus from the physician interviews.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first study to comprehensively develop country-specific definitions and algorithms for LGS and DS across several countries that provide a solid foundation toward identifying such patients from real-world retrospective databases. However, additional research and validation using real-world data sources are warranted.

Dataset Information

Results From an Italian Expanded Access Program on Cannabidiol Treatment in Highly Refractory Dravet Syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome.

Publications

Results From an Italian Expanded Access Program on Cannabidiol Treatment in Highly Refractory Dravet Syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome.

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