| UCB reports 'higher seizure freedom rates' for Keppra | Posted on 21/03/2007 in Pharmaceutical Company Product News UCB has reported that patients administered with its anti-epileptic compound Keppra (levetiracetam) as adjunctive treatment for primary generalised tonic-clonic seizures in idiopathic generalised epilepsy (IGE) patients have attained higher seizure freedom rates.
The compound has been approved for this indication by the US Food and Drug Administration in adults and children aged six years and older.
Clinical studies of Keppra as an adjunctive therapy with refractory IGE showed that 24.1 per cent of patients achieved total seizure freedom during the 20 week evaluation period, compared to 8.3 per cent receiving a placebo.
Dr Robert C Knowlton of the UAB Epilepsy Centre, said: "In the trial supporting this new indication, higher seizure freedom rates were observed for patients taking Keppra compared to those taking placebo.
"These results support the growing evidence for Keppra as an effective adjunctive therapy across partial and generalised seizure types."
He added that almost a quarter of epilepsy patients suffer from tonic-clonic seizures, characterised by rapid rhythmic jerking of the limbs following sudden loss of consciousness and stiffening of the muscles.
Earlier this year, UCB announced that Keppra had been approved by the European Commission as an adjunctive therapy to treat primary generalised tonic-clonic seizures in IGE patients.Other news stories from 21/03/2007
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