Pharmaprojects R&D Pipeline News Feed
Perampanel development for Parkinson's disease terminated at Phase III
17 Apr 2008
Perampanel (E-2007), Eisai's non-competitive AMPA-type glutamate receptor antagonist, has been discontinued for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. The announcement comes following completion of Study 302, a 20-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III trial comparing two doses (2 and 4mg) of perampanel with placebo. The primary endpoint of the trial was the reduction in “off” time - the time taken for signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease to return after the effect of levodopa wears off; however, no significant difference in “off” time was observed in any of the trial groups.
The pharmacological rationale for perampanel in Parkinson's disease was the therapeutic augmentation of levodopa. Eisai had hoped that perampanel would represent a first-in-class oral AMPA antagonist with a non-dopaminergic mechanism of action. This is different from the basis for perampanel's activity in epilepsy and neuropathic pain, therefore multiple Phase II clinical trials in these indications are ongoing. Perampanel also holds potential in several other CNS diseases.
