Pavel Klein, MD: Brivaracetam is Benign and Efficacious for Focal Seizures

"Brivaracetam is a good medication. It’s effective with a favorable adverse-effect profile. Additionally, unlike most anti-seizure medications, you can start with a target dose because the adverse-effect profile is so relatively benign that you don't have to titrate it.”

Data from the post-hoc analysis of the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled (N01358; NCT01261325) and open-label extension (OLE; N01379; NCT01339559) trials of adjunctive brivaracetam (BRV) presented at the American Epilepsy Society (AES) Annual Meeting, December 4–8, 2020, demonstrated that adults with focal seizures had higher retention rates of BRV the fewer number of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) they had previously been exposed to. These patients were less likely to discontinue BRV due to lack of efficacy or treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs).

The data, presented by Pavel Klein, MD, director, Mid-Atlantic Epilepsy and Sleep Center, showed that long-term efficacy was highest in patients with 1-2 lifetime AEDs and decreased by number of lifetime AEDs, though patients exposed to ≥7 AEDs still benefitted from long-term BRV treatment.

NeurologyLive spoke with Klein to learn more about BRV and the favorable safety profile that was observed in the analysis.

For more coverage of AES 2020, click here.

REFERENCE

Klein P, Dimova S, Brandt C, Laloyaux C, Nondonfaz X, Elmoufti S. Long-term retention, efficacy and tolerability of adjunctive brivaracetam by number of lifetime antiepileptic drugs in adults with focal seizures: A post hoc analysis. Presented at AES 2020 Annual Meeting; December 4–8, 2020. Abstract 134.