Data Presented at 12th European Congress on Epileptology (ECE) Offers New Insights into Seizure Control and

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions in the world, affecting approximately 6 million people in Europe, and an estimated 50 million people worldwide.[12] ,[13] Epilepsy is a chronic disorder of the brain that affects people of all ages. It is characterised by abnormal discharges of neuronal activity which causes 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 BIAL   

Founded in 1924, BIAL is an international pharmaceutical company with the mission to discover, develop and provide therapeutic solutions within the area of health. In recent decades, BIAL has focused on quality, innovation and internationalisation.

Being the partner of choice for many companies, BIAL is strongly committed to therapeutic innovation, investing more than 20% of its turnover in Research and Development (R&D) every year.

BIAL has established an ambitious R&D programme centred on the central nervous, cardiovascular system and allergy immunotherapy. BIAL's innovative programmes focus on continuing the clinical development of its anti-epileptic Zebinix(R)/Aptiom(R) (on the market in Europe and the USA), as well as opicapone for Parkinson's disease.

The company expects to introduce more new medicines and vaccines to the market in the next years, strengthening its position worldwide and accomplishing the company's purpose of "Caring for your Health."

For more information about BIAL, please visit http://www.bial.com.

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 multiple 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 [https://webmail.hhealth.com/owa/redir.aspx?C=6OjkkH_Oz0KcpqZqtz0gYu5W64yst9IIliR8UZVYwgaeouwuOzC4BDQV-nJBoz6bpw7MInczpyk.&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.eisai.com%2f ]

References  

1.    Ben-Menachem E, et al. Efficacy of eslicarbazepine acetate versus controlled-release carbamazepine as monotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed partial-onset seizures; European Congress on Epileptology 2016: Abstract #0002 

2.    Zebinix(R) (eslicarbazepine acetate) SPC - Available at: http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/EPAR_-_Product_Information/human/000988/WC500047225.pdf  [updated 19th May 2016]. Accessed September 2016 

3.    Trinka E, et al. Safety and tolerability of eslicarbazepine acetate as monotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed partial-onset seizures; European Congress on Epileptology 2016: Abstract #P615 

4.    McMurray R, et al. Effectiveness of eslicarbazepine acetate as adjunctive therapy for partial epilepsy in clinical practice: design of a European pooled analysis of real-world data; European Congress on Epileptology 2016: Abstract #P578  

5.    Villanueva V, et al. EARLY-ESLI study: From early add-on to monotherapy with eslicarbazepine acetate; European Congress on Epileptology 2016: Abstract #0034 

6.    Hebeisen S, et al. Eslicarbazepine and the enhancement of slow inactivation of voltage-gated sodium channels: a comparison with carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine and lacosamide. Neuropharmacology 2015; 89:122-35 

7.    Soares-da-Silva P, et al. Eslicarbazepine acetate for the treatment of focal epilepsy: an update on its proposed mechanisms of action. Pharmacol Res Perspect. 2015; 3:e00124 

8.    Elger C, et al. Eslicarbazepine acetate: A double-blind, add-on, placebo-controlled exploratory trial in adult patients with partial-onset seizures. Epilepsia 2007; 48:497-504 

9.    Elger C, et al. Efficacy and safety of eslicarbazepine acetate as adjunctive treatment in adults with refractory partial-onset seizures: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group phase III study. Epilepsia. 2009;50:454-63 

10.    Ben-Menachem E, et al. Eslicarbazepine acetate as adjunctive therapy in adult patients with partial epilepsy. Epilepsy Res. 2010;89(2-3):278-85 

11.    Gil-Nagel A, et al. Efficacy and safety of 800 and 1200 mg eslicarbazepine acetate as adjunctive treatment in adults with refractory partial-onset seizures. Acta Neurol Scand. 2009; 120:281-87 

12.    Epilepsy in the WHO European Region: Fostering Epilepsy Care in Europe. Available at: http://www.ibe-epilepsy.org/downloads/EURO%20Report%20160510.pdf Accessed September2016 

13.    Pugliatti M, et al. Estimating the cost of epilepsy in Europe: A review with economic modeling. Epilepsia 2007:48(12):2224-33

CONTACT: BIAL, Susana Vasconcelos, +351 229866100 / +351 229866148,Susana.Vasconcelos@bial.comEisai, Cressida Robson / Ben Speller, +44 7908 314 155 / +44 7908 409 416Ccressida_Rrobson@eisai.netBen_Speller@eisai.net ; Tonic LifeCommunications, Carys Thomas Ampofo / Chris Caudle, +44 7973 821 113 / + 447958 585 406, Carys.Thomas-Ampofo@toniclc.comChris.Caudle@toniclc.com