Cenobamate Provides High Rates of Seizure Reduction and Discontinuation of Concomitant Antiseizure Medications 

As published in Epilepsia,  2 post-hoc analyses of the phase 3 study of cenobamate (Xcopri; SK LIfe Science, Paramus, NJ) show this treatment resulted in high rates of seizure reduction while enabling discontinuation of concomitant antiseizure medications (ASMs). 

These analyses evaluated 240 participants with focal or focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures, who were treated with cenobamate for up to 43 months. The analysis showed 71.7% of patients reached a 50% or more responder rate with cenobamate. In the maintenance phase (n = 214), 13.1% of patients achieved seizure freedom and another 27.1% reached at least 90% seizure reduction; 36.3% had any consecutive 12 or more-month duration of seizure freedom. Concomitant ASM dose reductions or discontinuation correlated with continuing treatment with cenobamate. 

"The results of these 2 new post-hoc analyses provide evidence of the durable efficacy of Xcopri, as many patients sustained 90% and 100% reductions of their seizures over the course of the entire maintenance period, lasting up to 40.2 months," said William E. Rosenfeld, MD, epileptologist/neurologist who performed the studies and was the principal investigator at the Comprehensive Epilepsy Care Center for Children and Adults in St. Louis, Missouri. “I am encouraged to see the high retention rates associated with Xcopri. Many patients continued on Xcopri and remained seizure free, while also reducing or discontinuing one or more concomitant ASMs. These analyses may provide clinicians with real-world insight on managing their patients’ seizures, minimizing drug burden, while potentially reducing the side effects of concomitant ASMs associated with epilepsy treatment.”  
 
Common treatment-emergent adverse reactions included dizziness (32.1%), fatigue (34.6%), and somnolence (29.6%).