Abstracts

Real-world Outcomes and Tolerability of Eslicarbazepine Acetate as an Add-on or Switch from Levetiracetam Monotherapy

Abstract number : 3.278
Submission category : 7. Anti-seizure Medications / 7C. Cohort Studies
Year : 2023
Submission ID : 743
Source : www.aesnet.org
Presentation date : 12/4/2023 12:00:00 AM
Published date :

Authors :
Presenting Author: Todd Grinnell, AB – Sunovion Pharmaceuticals

David Cantu, PhD – Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, Inc; Kathleen Deering, PharmD – EPI-Q, Inc; Qing Harshaw, MD, PhD – EPI-Q, Inc; Brandon LaChappelle, MPH – EPI-Q, Inc; Parshotam Sachdeva, PharmD, MS – Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, Inc

Rationale: The primary aim of this study was to determine the effect of eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) on seizure frequency when used as the first add-on therapy or the first switch from levetiracetam (LEV) in a real-world setting.

Methods: A retrospective panel-based chart review study was conducted with 40 physicians in the United States. Data were extracted from medical records for patients with focal seizures (FS) who were initiated on ESL (index date) between January 01, 2017 and December 31, 2021. Included patients were ≥16 years of age at index, on LEV monotherapy for ≥28 days pre-index, and had documented seizure frequency data 60 days prior to index and on two post-index visits. Physicians were required to have used standardized methods of collecting seizure data such as seizure diaries. The population was stratified into two groups based on whether ESL was the first add-on therapy or the first switch from LEV. Data on ESL treatment patterns, seizure frequency, safety, and healthcare resource utilization were collected. Comparative analysis was conducted to evaluate seizure frequencies in the pre-ESL and post-ESL period for each group using McNamar statistics. Standardized seizure frequency was defined as the number of seizures per 28 days. Terminal seizure freedom was defined as sustained freedom from all seizures until the last follow-up.

Results: A total of 100 patients with FS were included in this analysis: 67 with ESL as an add-on to LEV (Add-On) and 33 switched from LEV to ESL (Switch). For both groups, the average age was approximately 40 years, the majority were male, and the patients were predominately white, non-Hispanic (see Table). The average follow-up was 14.7 (12.9) months in the Add-On group and 15.2 (11.9) months in the Switch group. In the Add-On group, the standardized seizure frequency decreased from 2.5 (3.2) pre-index to 0.6 (0.1) post-index (p < 0.0001). In the Switch group, the standardized seizure frequency decreased from 2.2 (4.0) pre-index to 0.1 (0.2) post-index (p=0.0041). The percentages of patients with a ≥50% reduction in seizures were 88.1% and 66.7% in the Add-On and Switch groups, respectively.
Anti-seizure Medications