Clinical drug development in epilepsy revisited: a proposal for a new paradigm streamlined using extrapolation

Wadsworth, I. et al. (2016) Clinical drug development in epilepsy revisited: a proposal for a new paradigm streamlined using extrapolation. CNS Drugs, 30(11), pp. 1011-1017. (doi: 10.1007/s40263-016-0383-y) (PMID:27623676) (PMCID:PMC5078157)

Abstract

Data from clinical trials in adults, extrapolated to predict benefits in paediatric patients, could result in fewer or smaller trials being required to obtain a new drug licence for paediatrics. This article outlines the place of such extrapolation in the development of drugs for use in paediatric epilepsies. Based on consensus expert opinion, a proposal is presented for a new paradigm for the clinical development of drugs for focal epilepsies. Phase I data should continue to be collected in adults, and phase II and III trials should simultaneously recruit adults and paediatric patients aged above 2 years. Drugs would be provisionally licensed for children subject to phase IV collection of neurodevelopmental safety data in this age group. A single programme of trials would suffice to license the drug for use as either adjunctive therapy or monotherapy. Patients, clinicians and sponsors would all benefit from this new structure through cost reduction and earlier access to novel treatments. Further work is needed to elicit the views of patients, their parents and guardians as appropriate, regulatory authorities and bodies such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (UK).

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Sills, Dr Graeme
• Authors: Wadsworth, I., Jaki, T., Sills, G. J., Appleton, R., Cross, J. H., Marson, A. G., Martland, T., McLellan, A., Smith, P. E.M., Pellock, J. M., and Hampson, L. V.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Life Sciences
• Journal Name: CNS Drugs
• Publisher: Springer
• ISSN: 1172-7047
• ISSN (Online): 1179-1934
• Published Online: 13 September 2016
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2016 The Authors
• First Published: First published in CNS Drugs 30(11):1011-1017
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License