Eslicarbazepine Acetate Sodium channel blocker, Antiepileptic drug

Eslicarbazepine acetate (BIA-2-093) is a prodrug of eslicarbazepine ([S]-licarbazepine), a third-generation drug belonging to the carbamazepine (CBZ) family and the active metabolite of oxcarbazepine (OXC) Eslicarbazepine acetate is currently being developed as a flew antiepileptic drug (AED), with the aim of improving the efficacy and tolerability profiles of CBZ and OXC Favorable phase III data from studies in patients with partial-onset seizures have indicated effective reductions in seizure frequency, good response rates, good safety and improvements in quality-of-life parameters when eslicarbazepine acetate is used as odd-on therapy These Studies hove resulted in the recent recommendation by the EMEA granting marketing authorization to BIAL - Portelo (Zebinix (R) Exalief (R) to be marketed in Europe by Eisai) Clinical development of eslicarbazepine acetate (Stedesa (TM)) is also under way in the U S and Canada by licensee Septocor