FDA approves Eisai's Fycompa to treat epileptic seizures and Supernus' Oxtellar XR

The US Food and Drug Administration yesterday approved Japanese drug major Eisai’s (TYO: 4523) Fycompa (perampanel) tablets to treat partial onset seizures in patients with epilepsy ages 12 years and older. The drug was approved this summer by the European Commission and made its first debut, in the UK, last month (The Pharma Letters July 30 and September 13).

Partial seizures are the most common type of seizure seen in people with epilepsy and affect only a limited or localized area of the brain, but can spread to other parts of the brain. Seizures cause a wide range of symptoms, including repetitive limb movements (spasms), unusual behavior, and generalized convulsions with loss of consciousness.

Adds to Eisai’s epilepsy portfolio