Eisai epilepsy treatment accepted for review by EMA

Eisai has announced that a marketing authorisation application (MAA) for its new drug perampanel (E2007) has been accepted for review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Discovered by the Tokyo-based company, perampanel is an AMPA-type glutamate receptor antagonist designed to help control partial-onset seizures associated with epilepsy.

Eisai submitted its MAA to the EMA on May 25th this year and has also made an equivalent application to authorities in the US.

In a statement, the firm confirmed that the submission was based on positive findings from three global phase III studies, which saw a total of 1,480 patients take part.

Each study produced consistent results regarding the efficacy and tolerability of perampanel as a treatment for sufferers of refractory partial seizures.

The company hopes the drug will become an important new therapy for a condition that is believed to affect up to 50 million people worldwide.

Earlier this month, Eisai presented phase III data for its DNA methylation inhibitor Dacogen (decitabine) at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting.