Swissmedic clears Eisai's Inovelon for rare form of epilepsy

Japanese drug major Eisai’s (TYO: 45230) European subsidiary says that the regulatory agency  Swissmedic has approval its Inovelon (rufinamide) oral suspension for adjunctive (add-on) treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) in patients over the age of four  years in Switzerland.

Many patients who receive the orphan drug rufinamide are children, partially disabled, and this new formulation has been developed as a child-friendly, orange-flavored drinkable liquid to aid the administration of treatment for this rare, severe form of epilepsy. Eisai acquired rights to rufinamide from Swiss drug major Novartis in 2004.

“Drinkable medicines can be particularly useful for children who find conventional tablets difficult to swallow. The rufinamide suspension formulation will provide patients, parents and caretaker with a new choice of method of administration which could result in better treatment adherence,” commented Klaus Meyer from the Bethesda Tschugg Clinic, Switzerland, adding: “Improving treatment compliance, especially for patients with this severe form of epilepsy, is an important step to help them manage their seizures.”