The anti-epileptic drug perampanel (Fycompa) is listed on the PBS from 1 August for treatment of patients with uncontrolled primary generalised tonic-clonic (PGTC) seizures in idiopathic generalised epilepsy.
Perampanel has been available on the PBS since 2014 for treatment of partial onset seizures and the extended listing will provide reimbursed access to adult and adolescent patients (from 12 years of age) with PGTC seizures.
The once-daily oral drug was recommended for a PBS listing by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) in July 2017 on the basis of a mixed comparison against placebo in refractory patients who have failed to respond adequately to other anti-epileptic drugs. The approval was also made on the basis of trials comparing perampanel against other anti-epileptic drugs such as valproate, lamotrigine, levetiracetam and topiramate for refractory patients in whom perampanel will substitute for another anti-epileptic drug.
The listing has been welcomed by Professor Terence O’Brien, Director of Neurology, Alfred Health, Melbourne, who said there were currently few treatment options available for patients with PGTC seizures.
“There is only a handful of anti-epileptic treatments [for PGTC seizures] and many of the drugs have issues and problems, which means a high proportion of patients remain uncontrolled,” he said.
Professor O’Brien told the limbic that perampanel would have a place as an additional therapy for patients in whom first line treatments such as valproate and levetiracetam were not controlling seizures, or where tolerance was an issue.
He said the drug was taken once daily at night and its side effect profile was not dissimilar to other anti-epileptic drugs.
According to the Epilepsy Foundation around one third of people living with epilepsy do not gain seizure freedom from existing treatments.
It says there are up to 250,000 Australians living with epilepsy and it is estimated that idiopathic generalised epilepsy makes up 20% of all epilepsies, with PGTC seizures being a common seizure type.