GSK's Lamictal XR cut partial seizures 46%

Data from two clinical trials presented at the American Academy of Neurology meeting in Boston suggest that an investigational once-daily extended-release formulation of UK drug major GlaxoSmithKline's Lamictal (lamotrigine) is effective as an add-on treatment in partial epilepsy with and without secondary generalization. Lamictal XR is currently in development for the treatment of epilepsy and, if approved, will be the first next-generation once-daily epilepsy drug.

Data from the ARMOR study, an international, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, showed that the agent reduced partial seizures 46%, while patients on placebo experienced a reduction of 24% over the entire 19-week study period. The trial also demonstrated significant overall reduction in seizure frequency in both the escalation and maintenance treatment phases. In addition, the study found that 42% of those on Lamictal XR reduced frequency of seizures at least half by the end of treatment.

In a separate presentation, the COMPASS study showed that patients could be switched from Lamictal immediate-release to Lamictal XR while maintaining comparable blood levels of lamotrigine, GSK noted.