On Tuesday, Samjin Pharmaceutical unveiled its latest innovation in epilepsy treatment: Bricetam Tablets (Brivaracetam). This third-generation medication improves upon the drug structure of Epilatam Tablets (Levetiracetam), the company’s top-selling generic in the South Korean epilepsy market.
While Brivaracetam has been widely prescribed overseas, its absence in Korea had previously limited patients’ access to cutting-edge drug therapies.
The newly launched Bricetam Tablets retain the established mechanism of Levetiracetam, which targets the synaptic vesicle protein SV2A. However, they offer significant improvements in addressing central nervous system adverse reactions and medication adherence – issues that had been identified as limitations of the previous treatment.
Clinical research has shown promising results. The Brivaracetam group experienced central nervous system adverse reactions at a rate of just 7.6%, markedly lower than the 13.9% observed with Levetiracetam. Of particular note, the incidence of irritability – a side effect that had been especially burdensome for patients and caregivers – dropped to 1.7% from 4.2% with Levetiracetam.
The new medication also offers enhanced convenience for elderly patients. Epilepsy is prevalent among older adults, who often have compromised kidney function. Bricetam Tablets’ unique metabolic pathway allows for prescription to patients with renal impairment without the need for dosage adjustments, ensuring a safer and more manageable treatment regimen.
Real-world evidence supports these advantages through high treatment retention rates. Data indicates that approximately 71.1% of patients prescribed Brivaracetam maintained their treatment without interruption for 12 months. Even more impressively, long-term follow-up at 60 months (5 years) showed a retention rate of 54.4%.
These findings underscore the importance of consistent medication use in managing chronic conditions. The drug’s effectiveness, coupled with its reduced side effect profile, appears to contribute significantly to patient satisfaction and treatment adherence.
Samjin Pharmaceutical’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kim Sang-jin, expressed the significance of this development: Introducing Bricetam Tablets to Korean epilepsy patients, who have been unable to access the latest therapeutic options, is a milestone for them. It believes that Bricetam Tablets, which substantially improve upon the central nervous system adverse reactions and irritability side effects seen with the market-leading Epilatam Tablets, will set a new standard in epilepsy care.