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Sustained seizure freedom with adjunctive brivaracetam in patients with focal onset seizures.

ABSTRACT: The maintenance of seizure control over time is a clinical priority in patients with epilepsy. The aim of this study was to assess the sustained seizure frequency reduction with adjunctive brivaracetam (BRV) in real-world practice. Patients with focal epilepsy prescribed add-on BRV were identified. Study outcomes included sustained seizure freedom and sustained seizure response, defined as a 100% and a ≥50% reduction in baseline seizure frequency that continued without interruption and without BRV withdrawal through the 12-month follow-up. Nine hundred ninety-four patients with a median age of 45 (interquartile range = 32-56) years were included. During the 1-year study period, sustained seizure freedom was achieved by 142 (14.3%) patients, of whom 72 (50.7%) were seizure-free from Day 1 of BRV treatment. Sustained seizure freedom was maintained for ≥6, ≥9, and 12 months by 14.3%, 11.9%, and 7.2% of patients from the study cohort. Sustained seizure response was reached by 383 (38.5%) patients; 236 of 383 (61.6%) achieved sustained ≥50% reduction in seizure frequency by Day 1, 94 of 383 (24.5%) by Month 4, and 53 of 383 (13.8%) by Month 7 up to Month 12. Adjunctive BRV was associated with sustained seizure frequency reduction from the first day of treatment in a subset of patients with uncontrolled focal epilepsy.

SUBMITTER: Lattanzi S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9311068 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Sustained seizure freedom with adjunctive brivaracetam in patients with focal onset seizures.

Lattanzi Simona S Ascoli Michele M Canafoglia Laura L Paola Canevini Maria M Casciato Sara S Cerulli Irelli Emanuele E Chiesa Valentina V Dainese Filippo F De Maria Giovanni G Didato Giuseppe G Di Gennaro Giancarlo G Falcicchio Giovanni G Fanella Martina M Gangitano Massimo M La Neve Angela A Mecarelli Oriano O Montalenti Elisa E Morano Alessandra A Piazza Federico F Pizzanelli Chiara C Pulitano Patrizia P Ranzato Federica F Rosati Eleonora E Tassi Laura L Di Bonaventura Carlo C

Epilepsia 20220326 5

The maintenance of seizure control over time is a clinical priority in patients with epilepsy. The aim of this study was to assess the sustained seizure frequency reduction with adjunctive brivaracetam (BRV) in real-world practice. Patients with focal epilepsy prescribed add-on BRV were identified. Study outcomes included sustained seizure freedom and sustained seizure response, defined as a 100% and a ≥50% reduction in baseline seizure frequency that continued without interruption and without B ...[more]

PMID: 35278335

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Project description:INTRODUCTION:There is an unmet need for well-tolerated antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) that effectively control focal onset seizures. This study aimed to evaluate the economic value of new AEDs in the treatment of focal onset seizure, with or without secondary generalization, in Finnish adults and adolescents with epilepsy, comparing brivaracetam with perampanel as adjunctive AEDs. METHODS:Economic value was assessed using cost-utility analysis. Periods of AED initiation, titration, response assessment (seizure freedom, ≥ 50% reduction, no response), switching in no response or treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), and death were simulated using a discrete-event simulation model. Responses and switching were simulated based on a comprehensive Bayesian network meta-analysis. The primary modeled outcome was the 3%/year discounted incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). Discounted quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), payer costs (year 2017 Euro) per patient, and net monetary benefit (NMB) were secondary outcomes. Probabilistic and comprehensive deterministic sensitivity analyses were conducted. RESULTS:Brivaracetam was more efficacious and had fewer TEAEs than perampanel and other AEDs. Modeled average 5-year QALYs and costs were 3.671 and €28,297 for brivaracetam and 3.611 and €27,979 for perampanel, respectively. The resulting ICER for brivaracetam versus perampanel was only €5345/QALY gained in a deterministic base case scenario. Brivaracetam had a positive NMB and high probability of cost-effectiveness of €1190 and 71% or €1944 and 80% with the assumed willingness to pay of €25,358 or €38,036/QALY gained, respectively. The primary result was robust, with a positive NMB persistent in all sensitivity analysis scenarios. When switching from brivaracetam to perampanel was excluded from the modeling or switching from perampanel to brivaracetam was included, brivaracetam was cost-saving and more effective than perampanel (dominant). CONCLUSION:These simulated comparisons demonstrated that brivaracetam was more effective and potentially also more affordable than perampanel. Thus, brivaracetam is likely a cost-effective and net beneficial alternative to perampanel for treatment of focal onset seizures. Plain language summary available for this article.

Project description:IntroductionEfficacy/tolerability of adjunctive brivaracetam (BRV) for focal-onset seizures (FOS) in patients aged ≥ 16 years was established in randomized controlled trials. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of adjunctive BRV in patients (≥ 16 years) with FOS with/without focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures in daily clinical practice.MethodsA 12-month, prospective, real-world, noninterventional study in nine European countries (EP0077/NCT02687711). BRV was prescribed per clinical practice and European Summary of Product Characteristics. Eligible patients had never received BRV before inclusion. Treating physicians made the decision to prescribe BRV, independently of study participation. Primary effectiveness outcome: BRV retention rate at 12 months; secondary effectiveness outcomes: 50% responder rate, seizure freedom.ResultsA total of 544 patients received ≥ 1 BRV dose (mean age: 43.6 years; 52.8% female; mean time since diagnosis: 22.7 years). Patients had a mean of 7.3 lifetime antiseizure medications (ASMs) and median of 3.7 FOS/28 days during 3-month retrospective baseline. Median total ASM drug load (including BRV) was 3.0 at BRV initiation (n = 539) and 3.3 at study end (n = 314). At 12 months, 57.7% of 541 patients remained on BRV, 60.4% of 230 were responders (≥ 50% seizure reduction since baseline), and 13.8% of 269 were seizure-free since BRV initiation. Historical levetiracetam use appeared not to impact retention rate (56.6% of 320 and 59.3% of 221 patients with and without historical levetiracetam use, respectively). 36.0% of 544 patients had drug-related treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), mostly (≥ 5% of patients) drug ineffective (11.4%) and seizure (6.3%). The three most common drug-related TEAEs leading to permanent BRV discontinuation (of 544 patients) were drug ineffective (10.1%), seizure (5.1%), and behavior disorder (3.3%).ConclusionsAdjunctive BRV was effective in clinical practice in patients with predominantly difficult-to-treat FOS, as shown by BRV retention rate of 57.7% at 12 months, which is in line with real-world retention rates for other new-generation ASMs.

Project description:IntroductionThis article aimed to assess the efficacy and tolerability of adjunctive brivaracetam (BRV) in adults with focal-onset seizures on specific concomitant antiseizure medications (ASMs) taken as part of their treatment regimen.MethodsThis was a post hoc analysis of pooled data from double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (N01252/NCT00490035, N01253/NCT00464269, and N01358/NCT01261325) in patients with uncontrolled focal-onset seizures randomized to BRV (50-200 mg/day) or placebo on the most common concomitant ASMs at trial initiation.ResultsNine concomitant ASMs were analyzed: carbamazepine (CBZ), lamotrigine (LTG), valproate (VPA), oxcarbazepine (OXC), topiramate (TPM), phenytoin (PHT), lacosamide (LCM), clobazam (CLB), and phenobarbital (PHB). Reduction over placebo in focal-onset seizure frequency per 28 days with BRV ranged from 11.7% (concomitant OXC) to 33.5% (concomitant PHB). The median percentage reduction from baseline in focal-onset seizure frequency per 28 days ranged from 25.5% to 42.8% in patients on BRV (placebo 4.4-21.2%); 50% responder rates ranged from 31.9% to 44.9% in patients on BRV (placebo 11.4-25.2%). In patients on BRV, seizure freedom ranged from 1.4% (concomitant PHT) to 12.5% (concomitant LCM); seizure freedom ranged from 0% to 1.2% in patients on placebo. All efficacy endpoints analyzed were consistently numerically higher in patients on BRV versus placebo. The overall incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) was generally similar across subgroups by specific concomitant ASMs in patients on BRV (range 60.8-74.5%) or placebo (range 53.8-66.7%). Drug-related TEAEs were numerically higher across all subgroups by concomitant ASM in patients on BRV (range 35.2-48.3%) versus placebo (range 23.9-37.1%). Discontinuations due to TEAEs ranged from 2.9% to 13.3% in patients on BRV and was 0-5.7% for patients taking placebo across subgroups.ConclusionBRV was efficacious and well tolerated regardless of the specific concomitant ASMs used as part of their treatment regimen. These data show that in patients with focal-onset seizures, BRV provides additional efficacy to a broad range of ASMs.

Project description:IntroductionThis analysis aimed to evaluate patient-related outcomes for health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and cognitive performance in patients (≥ 16 years) with focal-onset seizures (FOS), with/without focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures, after initiating adjunctive brivaracetam (BRV) in routine clinical practice.MethodsA 12-month, prospective, real-world, noninterventional study in nine European countries (EP0077/NCT02687711) was performed. BRV was prescribed per clinical practice and the European Summary of Product Characteristics. The outcomes evaluated were the Patient Weighted Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory-Form 31 (QOLIE-31-P), the Clinical and the Patient's Global Impression of Change (CGIC and PGIC, respectively), and EpiTrack®. EpiTrack® scores were categorized into cognitive performance categories (excellent: ≥ 39 points; average: 32-38 points; mildly impaired: 29-31 points; significantly impaired: ≤ 28 points). The change in EpiTrack® score was evaluated [improvement: increase in score of ≥ 4 points; no change: change in score of - 2 to 3 points (inclusive); worsening: change in score of at least - 3 points].ResultsFull Analysis Set: 541 patients. 46.6% of patients reported a clinically meaningful improvement in QOLIE-31-P total score from baseline to 12 months; the mean change in total score was + 6.2 points (N = 103). Per CGIC (N = 142) and PGIC (N = 148), respectively, 69.0% and 62.8% of patients had improved in overall condition at 12 months versus baseline, while 3.5% and 8.1% had worsened. EpiTrack® categories at 12 months versus baseline showed improved cognitive performance [baseline (N = 142): significantly impaired 49.3%, mildly impaired 14.8%, average 33.1%, excellent 2.8%; 12 months (N = 61): significantly impaired 36.1%, mildly impaired 4.9%, average 52.5%, excellent 6.6%]. At 12 months, 67.2% of patients showed no significant change from baseline in EpiTrack® score, 23.0% had improved, and 9.8% had worsened (N = 61).ConclusionIn patients with predominantly difficult-to-treat FOS, BRV add-on was associated with good HRQoL and cognitive functioning. Cognitive functioning remained stable for 12 months after BRV initiation in most patients; nearly one-quarter experienced significant improvements. At 12 months, 46.6% of patients reported clinically meaningful HRQoL improvements, and most showed an improved overall condition.

Project description:The apparent unpredictability of epileptic seizures has a major impact in the quality of life of people with pharmacologically resistant seizures. Here, we present initial results and a proof-of-concept of how focal seizures can be predicted early in advance based on intracortical signals recorded from small neocortical patches away from identified seizure onset areas. We show that machine learning algorithms can discriminate between interictal and preictal periods based on multiunit activity (i.e. thresholded action potential counts) and multi-frequency band local field potentials recorded via 4 X 4 mm2 microelectrode arrays. Microelectrode arrays were implanted in 5 patients undergoing neuromonitoring for resective surgery. Post-implant analysis revealed arrays were outside the seizure onset areas. Preictal periods were defined as the 1-hour period leading to a seizure. A 5-minute gap between the preictal period and the putative seizure onset was enforced to account for potential errors in the determination of actual seizure onset times. We used extreme gradient boosting and long short-term memory networks for prediction. Prediction accuracy based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves reached 90% for at least one feature type in each patient. Importantly, successful prediction could be achieved based exclusively on multiunit activity. This result indicates that preictal activity in the recorded neocortical patches involved not only subthreshold postsynaptic potentials, perhaps driven by the distal seizure onset areas, but also neuronal spiking in distal recurrent neocortical networks. Beyond the commonly identified seizure onset areas, our findings point to the engagement of large-scale neuronal networks in the neural dynamics building up toward a seizure. Our initial results obtained on currently available human intracortical microelectrode array recordings warrant new studies on larger datasets, and open new perspectives for seizure prediction and control by emphasizing the contribution of multiscale neural signals in large-scale neuronal networks.

Project description:BackgroundCenobamate is a novel tetrazole-derived carbamate compound with a dual mechanism of action. This drug can enhance the inactivated state of voltage-gated sodium channels, preferentially inhibiting the persistent component of the sodium channel current, and acts as a positive allosteric modulator of GABAA receptors, binding at a non-benzodiazepine site.ObjectiveWe assessed the efficacy and safety of adjunctive cenobamate for the treatment of focal-onset seizures in adult patients with epilepsy using meta-analytical techniques.MethodsWe systematically searched (May, week 4, 2020) MEDLINE (accessed by PubMed), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and the US National Institutes of Health Clinical Trials Registry ( http://www.clinicaltrials.gov ). There were no date limitations or language restrictions. Randomized, placebo-controlled, single or double-blinded, add-on trials of cenobamate in adult patients with uncontrolled focal-onset seizures were identified. Main outcomes included the proportion of patients with ≥ 50 and 100% reduction in seizure frequency during the maintenance treatment period compared with baseline and the incidence of treatment withdrawal and adverse events (AEs). Risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was estimated for each outcome.ResultsTwo trials were included, overall enrolling 659 patients (442 for the add-on cenobamate group and 217 for the add-on placebo group). Seizure frequency reduction by at least 50% occurred during the maintenance phase in 50.1% of the patients randomized to cenobamate and 23.5% of the placebo-treated participants (RR 2.18, 95% CI 1.67-2.85; p < 0.001). The pooled estimated RR to achieve seizure freedom for the cenobamate group in comparison with placebo was 3.71 (95% CI 1.93-7.14; p < 0.001). Withdrawal from randomized treatment occurred in 16.7 and 11.1% of participants receiving cenobamate and placebo, respectively (RR 1.34, 95% CI 0.85-2.09; p = 0.205). Treatment was discontinued due to AEs in 12.2 and 4.1% of the patients in the active and control arms (RR 2.27, 95% CI 1.08-4.79; p = 0.031). AEs were reported in 76.9 and 66.8% of the patients during treatment with cenobamate and placebo (RR 1.14, 95% CI 1.02-1.26; p = 0.021). The cenobamate-associated AEs included somnolence, dizziness, fatigue, balance disorder, and diplopia.ConclusionsAdjunctive cenobamate in adult patients with uncontrolled focal-onset seizures is associated with a greater reduction in seizure frequency and a higher rate of AEs than placebo.

Project description:ObjectiveThis post hoc analysis evaluated whether continued treatment with perampanel monotherapy beyond initial titration may be appropriate for patients with focal-onset seizures (FOS) with currently untreated epilepsy to achieve seizure freedom with an effective dose.MethodsStudy 342 (NCT03201900; FREEDOM) is a single-arm, open-label, Phase III study of perampanel monotherapy. Patients aged ≥12 years with untreated FOS received perampanel 4 mg/d in a 32-week Treatment Phase (6-week Titration and 26-week Maintenance Periods); in case of seizure(s) during Maintenance Period, patients could enter a 30-week Treatment Phase (4-week Titration and 26-week Maintenance Periods) to be up-titrated to perampanel 8 mg/d. The primary endpoint was seizure-freedom rate during Maintenance Period in the modified Intent-to-Treat (mITT) Analysis Set (patients who had ≥1 post-dose efficacy measurement during Maintenance Period); safety was monitored. This analysis of 4-mg/d efficacy data assessed the proportion of patients achieving seizure freedom during the Maintenance Period (responders) relative to patients with an early/later response (depending on seizure status during the Titration Period).ResultsIn the mITT population (n = 73), 46 patients were 4-mg/d responders; of whom, 37 (80.4%) were early responders and nine (19.6%) were later responders. The mean (standard deviation) percent reductions in FOS frequency from baseline at the end of the 4-mg/d Titration Period were 100.0% (0.0%; early responders) and 46.3% (97.3%; later responders). Among the 27 4-mg/d nonresponders, nine (33.3%) patients who had an early response experienced seizure(s) during the subsequent 4-mg/d Maintenance Period. Safety outcomes were similar, regardless of responder status, without new safety concerns.SignificanceSome patients with untreated FOS may benefit from continued treatment beyond initial titration of perampanel monotherapy to achieve seizure freedom, suggesting that it may not be appropriate to make treatment decisions to discontinue or switch from perampanel monotherapy solely based on seizure response before an effective dose has been reached.

Project description:ObjectiveInterictal spikes help localize seizure generators as part of surgical planning for drug-resistant epilepsy. However, there are often multiple spike populations whose frequencies change over time, influenced by brain state. Understanding state changes in spike rates will improve our ability to use spikes for surgical planning. Our goal was to determine the effect of sleep and seizures on interictal spikes, and to use sleep and seizure-related changes in spikes to localize the seizure-onset zone (SOZ).MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of intracranial electroencephalography (EEG) data from patients with focal epilepsy. We automatically detected interictal spikes and we classified different time periods as awake or asleep based on the ratio of alpha to delta power, with a secondary analysis using the recently published SleepSEEG algorithm. We analyzed spike rates surrounding sleep and seizures. We developed a model to localize the SOZ using state-dependent spike rates.ResultsWe analyzed data from 101 patients (54 women, age range 16-69). The normalized alpha-delta power ratio accurately classified wake from sleep periods (area under the curve = .90). Spikes were more frequent in sleep than wakefulness and in the post-ictal compared to the pre-ictal state. Patients with temporal lobe epilepsy had a greater wake-to-sleep and pre- to post-ictal spike rate increase compared to patients with extra-temporal epilepsy. A machine-learning classifier incorporating state-dependent spike rates accurately identified the SOZ (area under the curve = .83). Spike rates tended to be higher and better localize the seizure-onset zone in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep than in wake or REM sleep.SignificanceThe change in spike rates surrounding sleep and seizures differs between temporal and extra-temporal lobe epilepsy. Spikes are more frequent and better localize the SOZ in sleep, particularly in NREM sleep. Quantitative analysis of spikes may provide useful ancillary data to localize the SOZ and improve surgical planning.

Dataset Information

Sustained seizure freedom with adjunctive brivaracetam in patients with focal onset seizures.

Publications

Sustained seizure freedom with adjunctive brivaracetam in patients with focal onset seizures.

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