Eisai epilepsy drug ‘improves Parkinson’s symptoms’

A new study has found that a drug from Eisa designed to treat symptoms associated with epilepsy can also lower the number of involuntary movements such as tremors in patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Research published in the Neurology journal found that 30 per cent of patients with Parkinson’s exhibited a reduction of over 30 per cent in their development of the disease, according to a rating scale measuring this progression, Bloomberg reports.

The study tested 279 patients with Parkinson’s disease whose symptoms were not sufficiently managed by levodopa, with patients receiving either a placebo, or daily doses of 25mg, 50mg or 100mg of Zonegran.

Zonegran is currently used to treat partial seizures in adult patients with epilepsy, with starting doses recommended at 100mg per day.

David Charles, associate professor at Vanderbilt University, said: “It’s an exciting finding.”

He told the news agency that while not addressing important issues regarding the disease, including its causes or the means of halting its progression, the recent study had contributed to “the growing list of medications to help the symptoms”.

Last month, Reuters reported that Schwarz Pharma claimed that its epilepsy therapy lacosamide had efficacy that was “on a par” with other treatments, including Zonegran, while reporting potentially fewer side effects.