Abstracts

Rationale: Study data on patient preferences and health-related quality of life can be important information for patients, clinicians, and health plan providers. Data compiled within typical care settings can assist stakeholders to make better-informed decisions to improve health care at all levels. Studies have demonstrated a positive association between increased adherence with antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy and more favorable clinical outcomes such as lower emergency department (ED) use, hospitalization rates, and mortality rates. Even with increased drug utilization costs, greater AED adherence has been associated with reduced overall healthcare costs. Oxtellar XR^® (Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) is a novel extended-release, once-daily oxcarbazepine (OXC) tablet with a unique plasma concentration-time profile that may improve tolerability vs. immediate-release oxcarbazepine (OXC-IR). Improved tolerability, together with QD dosing, may have a positive impact on patient adherence and overall outcomes. We report the results of a pilot study to collect outcome data for patients with epilepsy treated with Oxtellar XR or OXC-IR in typical care settings. Methods: A retrospective review of medical charts of randomly selected patients. Waivers of informed consent and authorization were granted by a central institutional review board. All patient information collected was de-identified, preserving HIPAA confidentiality. Inclusion: Oxtellar XR or OXC-IR use; patients ≥6 yrs old while on OXC medication with diagnosis of partial-onset seizures; record of treatment initiating visit for Oxtellar XR or OXC-IR and ≥1 post-initiation visit. Exclusion: use of ≥3 AEDs. Key data: demographics; comorbidities; seizure frequency; Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) measures of epilepsy; resource utilization, including ED visits and/or hospitalizations; and AED use. Results: To date, chart review includes 102 patients treated with Oxtellar XR (n=47) between February 2013 and January 2014 or OXC-IR (n=55) between January 2011 and January 2014. Results show that two-thirds of Oxtellar XR patients took the once-daily AED before bed. More patients taking OXC-IR missed doses than patients taking Oxtellar XR. The proportion of patients with ED visits and inpatient stays was lower among patients receiving Oxtellar XR (Oxtellar XR: ED visits, n=5, 11%; inpatient stay, n=2, 4%; OXC-IR: ED visits, n=11, 20%; inpatient stay, n=6, 11%). Conclusions: In this initial data review, patient self-reporting of missed doses indicates greater adherence with Oxtellar XR. Data also suggest a positive impact of Oxtellar XR on costly outcomes such as ED visits and inpatient stays. Study sponsor: Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.