Eisai Neuroscience Business Officially Launched in Belgium and Luxembourg

HATFIELD, UK, November 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

PRESS RELEASE FOR EU MEDIA ONLY: NOT FOR SWISS/U.S. JOURNALISTS 

Eisai EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa, Russia and Oceania), a division of one of the world's leading research and development (R&D) based pharmaceutical companies, today announces the official expansion of its Belgian operation to include neuroscience alongside its oncology capabilities. The Eisai Belgium office was opened in September 2013 and is based in Brussels.

The neuroscience business unit will market Fycompa^® (perampanel), launched in Belgium in August 2014, indicated for the adjunctive treatment of partial onset seizures, with or without secondarily generalised seizures, in patients with epilepsy aged 12 years and older.^[1]

In addition the neuroscience business unit is responsible for Inovelon^® (rufinamide), commercially available in Belgium since March 2012 and indicated as an adjunctive therapy in the treatment of epileptic seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) in patients 4 years and older.^[2]

"We are excited to announce the launch of our neuroscience capability in Belgium, which will provide greater access to our innovative portfolio of epilepsy treatments, including newly launched perampanel," commented Dr. Nicolas Kormoss, Medical Director for Belgium and Luxemburg at Eisai EMEA.

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions in the world.^[3] In Belgium, approximately 60,000 people live with epilepsy and 150,000 people will experience an epileptic episode at some point in their life.^[4] The successful treatment of partial onset seizures remains a challenge; up to a third of people with epilepsy do not achieve seizure freedom despite appropriate therapy with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).^[5]

Eisai is committed to the development and delivery of highly beneficial new treatments to help improve the lives of people with epilepsy and cancer, and their families. The continued development of its neuroscience and oncology portfolios underscores Eisai's human health care (hhc) mission, the company's commitment to innovative solutions in disease prevention, cure and care for the health and wellbeing of people worldwide.

Notes to Editors 

About Fycompa^® (perampanel) 

Perampanel is indicated for the adjunctive treatment of partial onset seizures, with or without secondarily generalised seizures, in patients with epilepsy aged 12 years and older.^[1]

Perampanel is a highly selective, non-competitive AMPA (alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid)-type glutamate receptor antagonist that has demonstrated seizure reduction in Phase II and III studies. AMPA receptors, widely present in almost all excitatory neurons, transmit signals stimulated by the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate within the brain and are believed to play a role in central nervous system diseases characterised by excess neuroexcitatory signalling including epilepsy.^[1]

For more information please visit: http://www.fycompa.eu  

About Epilepsy  

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions in the world, affecting approximately eight in 1,000 people in Europe, and an estimated 50 million people worldwide.^[6],[7]Epilepsy is a chronic disorder of the brain that affects people of all ages. It is characterised by abnormal discharges of neuronal activity causing seizures. Seizures can vary in severity, from brief lapses of attention or jerking of muscles, to severe and prolonged convulsions. Depending on the seizure type, seizures may be limited to one part of the body, or may involve the whole body. Seizures can also vary in frequency from less than one per year, to several per day. Epilepsy has many possible causes but often the cause is unknown.

About Eisai EMEA in Epilepsy  

Eisai is committed to developing and delivering highly beneficial new treatments to help improve the lives of people with epilepsy. The development of AEDs is a major strategic area for Eisai in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Russia and Oceania (EMEA).

In the EMEA region, Eisai currently has four marketed treatments including:

• Fycompa^® (perampanel) for use as an adjunctive treatment for partial onset seizures, with or without secondarily generalised seizures, in patients with epilepsy aged 12 years and older
• Inovelon^® (rufinamide) for the adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome in patients >4 years. (Rufinamide was originally developed by Novartis)
• Zonegran^® (zonisamide) as monotherapy in the treatment of partial seizures, with or without secondary generalisation, in adults with newly diagnosed epilepsy and as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial seizures, with or without generalisation, in adults, adolescents and children aged six years and above. (Zonegran is under license from the originator Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma). Zonegran is not marketed in Belgium  
• Zebinix^® (eslicarbazepine acetate) as adjunctive therapy in adult patients with partial onset seizures, with or without secondary generalisation. (Zebinix is under license from BIAL). Zebinix is not marketed in Belgium

About Eisai Co., Ltd. 

Eisai Co., Ltd. is a leading global research and development-based pharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan. We define our corporate mission as "giving first thought to patients and their families and to increasing the benefits health care provides," which we call our human health care (hhc) philosophy. With over 10,000 employees working across our global network of R&D facilities, manufacturing sites and marketing subsidiaries, we strive to realise our hhc philosophy by delivering innovative products in various therapeutic areas with high unmet medical needs, including Oncology and Neurology. 

As a global pharmaceutical company, our mission extends to patients around the world through our investment and participation in partnership-based initiatives to improve access to medicines in developing and emerging countries.

For more information about Eisai Co., Ltd., please visit http://www.eisai.com.

References 

1. Fycompa, Summary of Product Characteristics (updated November 2013): http://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/26951/  

2. Inovelon, Summary of Product Characteristics (updated June 2013): https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/20165/

3. ILAE/IBE/WHO, Epilepsy in the WHO European Region: Fostering Epilepsy Care in Europe 2010. Available at: http://www.ilae-epilepsy.org/Visitors/Documents/EUROReport160510.pdf  (accessed October 2014)  

4. Les épilepsies - Statistiques en Belgique. Ligue Francophone Belge contre L'Epilepsie. Available at : 

http://www.ligueepilepsie.be/spip.php?rubrique33 (accessed October 2014) 

5. Schmidt D. Drug treatment of epilepsy: options and limitations. Epilepsy & Behavior 2009:15:56-65 

6. Epilepsy in the WHO European Region: Fostering Epilepsy Care in Europe. http://www.ibe-epilepsy.org/downloads/EURO%20Report%20160510.pdf (accessed October 2014)

7. Pugliatti M et al. Estimating the cost of epilepsy in Europe: A review with economic modeling. Epilepsia 2007:48(12):2224-2233. 

Date of preparation: November 2014
Job code: Corporate-UK2028