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news.Eisai announced that its Hong Kong subsidiary Eisai (Hong Kong) has launched the AMPA receptor antagonist Fycompa (perampanel), a first-in-class antiepileptic drug (AED) discovered and developed in-house, in the region as an adjunctive treatment for partial-onset seizures with or without secondary generalized seizures in patients with epilepsy aged 12 years and older.
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This marks the first launch of Fycompa in the Asia region.
Fycompa is a highly selective, noncompetitive AMPA receptor antagonist discovered and developed by Eisai. With epileptic seizures being primarily mediated by the neurotransmitter glutamate, the agent works as a first-in-class AED that reduces neuronal hypere xcitation associated with seizures by targeting glutamate activity at postsynaptic AMPA receptors.
It is approved in more than 40 countries worldwide, mostly in Europe and North America, and has been already launched in over 15 countries around the world including the United States and a number of European countries.
Over half of the 50 million people with epilepsy worldwide are estimated to live in Asia 1 . As approximately some 60% of patients diagnosed with epilepsy have pa rtial seizures, of which approximately 25% to 30% are unable to control their seizures with current treatm ent options, this is a disease with significant unmet medical needs.
Fycompa, which has a mechanism of acti on different to that of ot her licensed AEDs, offers a new treatment option for epilepsy patients with part ial-onset seizures.
Indicated for a wide range of patients, including adults and adolescents aged 12 y ears and older, the agent has the added benefit of once-daily oral dosing, which is expected to reduce the potential pill-burden a patient with epilepsy may experience as well as improve patient drug compliance.
Eisai considers epilepsy as a therapeutic area of fo cus and in addition to Fycompa, holds an extensive epilepsy product portfolio. By providing multiple tr eatment options in Asia, including Hong Kong, Eisai seeks to make continued contributions to addressi ng the diverse needs of, as well as increasing the benefits provided to, patients with epilepsy and their families.