Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
CNS Drugs
Published in: CNS Drugs 5/2002

01-05-2002 | Current Opinion

Pros and Cons for the Development of New Antiepileptic Drugs

Authors: Prof. Meir Bialer, Matthew C. Walker, Josemir W. Sander

Published in: CNS Drugs | Issue 5/2002

Login to get access

Abstract

There continues to be an escalation in the number of new antiepileptic drugs, with many recently marketed drugs and many more entering clinical trials. This growth begs the question as to whether we need additional antiepileptic drugs. We consider the answer to this question from the medical perspective and also from the viewpoint of the pharmaceutical industry, health providers and from a more global, international perspective.
There is undoubtedly a medical need for new antiepileptic drugs, and despite growing competition, the antiepileptic drug market remains profitable. However, in health services with limited resources, it is important that this expense is not offset by failure to research more appropriate use of existing antiepileptic drugs that may have a greater impact on healthcare. This is especially true for developing countries where resources would be much better spent on prevention and closing the treatment gap (the difference between those who can be treated and those who are treated).
Literature
1.
Bialer M, Johannessen SI, Kupferberg HJ, et al. Progress report on new antiepileptic drugs: a summary of the Fifth Eilat conference (EILAT V). Epilepsy Res 2001; 43: 11–58PubMedCrossRef
2.
Sander JW, Shorvon SD. Epidemiology of the epilepsies. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1996; 61: 433–43PubMedCrossRef
3.
4.
Wong IC, Chadwick DW, Fenwick PB, et al. The long-term use of gabapentin, lamotrigine, and vigabatrin in patients with chronic epilepsy. Epilepsia 1999; 40: 1439–45PubMedCrossRef
5.
6.
Wree S, Blume WT, Girvin JP, et al. A randomized, controlled trial of surgery for temporal lobe epilepsy. N Engl J Med 2001; 345: 311–8CrossRef
7.
Mattson RH, Cramer JA, Collins JF, et al. Comparison of carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, and primidone in partial and secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures. N Engl J Med 1985; 313: 145–51PubMedCrossRef
8.
Chadwick D. Do new antiepileptic drugs justify their expense? Arch Neurol 1998 Aug; 55(8): 1140–2PubMedCrossRef
9.
Brodie MJ, Richens A, Yuen AW. Double blind comparison of lamotrigine and carbamazepine in newly diagnosed epilepsy. UK Lamotrigine/Carbamazepine trial group. Lancet 1995; 345: 476–9PubMedCrossRef
10.
Brodie MJ, Overstall PW, Giorgi L. Multicentre, double-blind, randomized comparison between lamotrigine and carbamazepine in elderly patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy. UK Lamotrigine Elderly Study Group. Epilepsy Res 1999; 37: 81–7PubMedCrossRef
11.
Reunanen M, Dam M, Yuen AW. A randomised open multicentre comparative trial to lamotrigine and carbamazepine as monotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent epilepsy. Epilepsy Res 1996; 23: 149–55PubMedCrossRef
12.
13.
Musicco M, Beghi E, Solari A, et al. Treatment of first tonic-clonic seizure does not improve the prognosis of epilepsy. Neurology 1997; 49: 991–8PubMedCrossRef
14.
Foy PM, Chadwick DW, Rajgopalan N, et al. Do prophylactic anticonvulsant drugs alter the pattern of seizures after craniotomy? J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1992; 55: 753–7PubMedCrossRef
15.
Schierhout G, Roberts I. Prophylactic antiepileptic agents after head injury: a systematic review. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1998; 64: 108–12PubMedCrossRef
16.
Serge JCP-L. New drugs: which should be included in the formulary? Arch Neurol 2000; 57: 272–3CrossRef
17.
Sander JWAS, White HS. Disease modification in epilepsy. Prog Neurol Psychiatry 2001; 5 Suppl.: 1–12
18.
International Marketing Service (IMS-HEALTH). London: IMS World Publication Ltd, 2001
19.
20.
21.
Heaney DC, Shorvon SD, Sander JW, et al. Cost minimization analysis of antiepileptic drugs in newly diagnosed epilepsy in 12 European countries. Epilepsia 2000; 41 Suppl. 5: S37–44PubMedCrossRef
22.
Messori A, Trippoli S, Becagli P, et al. Adjunctive lamotrigine therapy in patients with refractory seizures: a lifetime cost-utility analysis. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1998; 53: 421–7PubMedCrossRef
23.
Heaney DC, Sander JW. Ensuring appropriate care in epilepsy: an overview of epidemiological and cost of illness consideration. Dis Manage Health Outcomes 1999; 4: 303–13
24.
Walker MC, Sander JW. Difficulties in extrapolating from clinical trial data to clinical practice: the case of antiepileptic drugs. Neurology 1997; 49: 333–7PubMedCrossRef
25.
Shorvon SD, Farmer PJ. Epilepsy in developing countries: a review of epidemiological, sociocultural, and treatment aspects. Epilepsia 1988; 29 Suppl. 1: S36–54PubMedCrossRef
26.
Pal DK, Carpio A, Sander JW. Neurocysticercosis and epilepsy in developing countries. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2000; 68: 137–43PubMedCrossRef
27.
Feksi AT, Kaamugisha J, Sander JWAS, et al. Comprehensive primary health care antiepileptic drug treatment programme in rural and semi-urban Kenya. Lancet 1991; 337: 406–9PubMedCrossRef
Metadata
Title
Pros and Cons for the Development of New Antiepileptic Drugs
Authors
Prof. Meir Bialer
Matthew C. Walker
Josemir W. Sander
Publication date
01-05-2002
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
CNS Drugs / Issue 5/2002
Print ISSN: 1172-7047
Electronic ISSN: 1179-1934
DOI
https://doi.org/10.2165/00023210-200216050-00001

Other articles of this Issue 5/2002

CNS Drugs 5/2002 Go to the issue

Original Research Article

Potential Savings from Splitting Newer Antidepressant Medications

Review Article

Brain Metastases

Commentary

Splitting Antidepressant Medications

Review Article

The Role of Iron and Copper in the Aetiology of Neurodegenerative Disorders

Therapy In Practice

CNS Manifestations of Cytomegalovirus Infections

Therapy In Practice

Mood Disorders in Patients with Epilepsy