Retigabine for partial onset seizures

Abstract

Ezogabine/retigabine (RTG) is a novel antiepileptic compound that activates a voltage-sensitive neuronal-specific outward potassium current that decreases neuronal excitability. RTG has been evaluated in three pivotal placebo-controlled randomized trials as adjunctive therapy in adult drug-resistant partial epilepsy. In comparison to placebo, adjunctive RTG effectively reduces seizure frequency. The relative risk of the responder rate (95% CI) was thus 1.71 (1.24–2.35), 2.18 (1.61–2.96) and 2.35 (1.72–3.22) for RTG 600, 900 and 1200 mg/day, respectively. The most common adverse events associated with RTG were nonspecific CNS side effects. No major effect on cardiac rhythm or conduction has been reported so far. Long-term open-label extensions of these three pivotal trials are underway. RTG has recently been approved both in Europe and in the USA for the adjunctive treatment of partial-onset seizures in adults aged 18 years and above.

Keywords::

• antiepileptic
• epilepsy
• ezogabine
• partial seizures
• retigabine

Financial & competing interests disclosure

S Rheims has received speaker fees from Pfizer and UCB Pharma. P Ryvlin has received speaker or consultant fees from Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, UCB Pharma, Eisai and BIAL. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Notes

Data taken from [12,24].