Topiramate (Page 8 of 11)

13 NON-CLINICAL TOXICOLOGY

13.1 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

Carcinogenesis
An increase in urinary bladder tumors was observed in mice given topiramate (0, 20, 75, and 300 mg/kg/day) in the diet for 21 months. The increase in the incidence of bladder tumors in males and females receiving 300 mg/kg/day was primarily due to the increased occurrence of a smooth muscle tumor considered histomorphologically unique to mice. The higher of the doses not associated with an increase in tumors (75 mg/kg/day) is equivalent to the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) for epilepsy (400 mg), and approximately 4 times the MRHD for migraine (100 mg) on a mg/m2 basis. The relevance of this finding to human carcinogenic risk is uncertain. No evidence of carcinogenicity was seen in rats following oral administration of topiramate for 2 years at doses up to 120 mg/kg/day (approximately 3 times the MRHD for epilepsy and 12 times the MRHD for migraine on a mg/m2 basis).

Mutagenesis
Topiramate did not demonstrate genotoxic potential when tested in a battery of in vitro and in vivo assays. Topiramate was not mutagenic in the Ames test or the in vitro mouse lymphoma assay; it did not increase unscheduled DNA synthesis in rat hepatocytes in vitro; and it did not increase chromosomal aberrations in human lymphocytes in vitro or in rat bone marrow in vivo.

Impairment of FertilityNo adverse effects on male or female fertility were observed in rats administered topiramate orally at doses up to 100 mg/kg/day (2.5 times the MRHD for epilepsy and 10 times the MRHD for migraine on a mg/m2 basis) prior to and during mating and early pregnancy.

14 CLINICAL STUDIES

The studies described in the following sections were conducted using topiramate tablets.

14.1 Monotherapy Epilepsy

Patients with Partial-Onset or Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic SeizuresAdults and Pediatric Patients 10 Years of Age and Older
The effectiveness of topiramate as initial monotherapy in adults and pediatric patients 10 years of age and older with partial-onset or primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures was established in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group trial (Study 1).
Study 1 was conducted in 487 patients diagnosed with epilepsy (6 to 83 years of age) who had 1 or 2 well-documented seizures during the 3-month retrospective baseline phase who then entered the study and received topiramate 25 mg/day for 7 days in an open-label fashion. Forty-nine percent of patients had no prior AED treatment and 17% had a diagnosis of epilepsy for greater than 24 months. Any AED therapy used for temporary or emergency purposes was discontinued prior to randomization. In the double-blind phase, 470 patients were randomized to titrate up to 50 mg/day or 400 mg/day. If the target dose could not be achieved, patients were maintained on the maximum tolerated dose. Fifty-eight percent of patients achieved the maximal dose of 400 mg/day for >2 weeks, and patients who did not tolerate 150 mg/day were discontinued.

The primary efficacy assessment was a between-group comparison of time to first seizure during the double-blind phase. Comparison of the Kaplan-Meier survival curves of time to first seizure favored the topiramate 400 mg/day group over the topiramate 50 mg/day group (Figure 1). The treatment effects with respect to time to first seizure were consistent across various patient subgroups defined by age, sex, geographic region, baseline body weight, baseline seizure type, time since diagnosis, and baseline AED use.Figure 1: Kaplan-Meier Estimates of Cumulative Rates for Time to First Seizure in Study 1

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Pediatric Patients 2 to 9 Years of Age

The conclusion that topiramate is effective as initial monotherapy in pediatric patients 2 to 9 years of age with partial-onset or primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures was based on a pharmacometric bridging approach using data from the controlled epilepsy trials described in labeling. This approach consisted of first showing a similar exposure response relationship between pediatric patients down to 2 years of age and adults when topiramate was given as adjunctive therapy. Similarity of exposure-response was also demonstrated in pediatric patients 6 to less than 16 years of age and adults when topiramate was given as initial monotherapy. Specific dosing in pediatric patients 2 to 9 years of age was derived from simulations utilizing plasma exposure ranges observed in pediatric and adult patients treated with topiramate initial monotherapy [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)].

14.2 Adjunctive Therapy Epilepsy

Adult Patients With Partial-Onset SeizuresThe effectiveness of topiramate as an adjunctive treatment for adults with partial-onset seizures was established in six multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (Studies 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7), two comparing several dosages of topiramate and placebo and four comparing a single dosage with placebo, in patients with a history of partial-onset seizures, with or without secondarily generalized seizures.
Patients in these studies were permitted a maximum of two antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in addition to topiramate tablets or placebo. In each study, patients were stabilized on optimum dosages of their concomitant AEDs during baseline phase lasting between 4 and 12 weeks. Patients who experienced a pre-specified minimum number of partial-onset seizures, with or without secondary generalization, during the baseline phase (12 seizures for 12-week baseline, 8 for 8-week baseline or 3 for 4-week baseline) were randomly assigned to placebo or a specified dose of topiramate tablets in addition to their other AEDs.
Following randomization, patients began the double-blind phase of treatment. In five of the six studies, patients received active drug beginning at 100 mg per day; the dose was then increased by 100 mg or 200 mg/day increments weekly or every other week until the assigned dose was reached, unless intolerance prevented increases. In the sixth study (Study 7), the 25 or 50 mg/day initial doses of topiramate were followed by respective weekly increments of 25 or 50 mg/day until the target dose of 200 mg/day was reached. After titration, patients entered a 4, 8 or 12-week stabilization period. The numbers of patients randomized to each dose and the actual mean and median doses in the stabilization period are shown in Table 12.
Pediatric Patients 2 to 16 Years of Age with Partial-Onset Seizures
The effectiveness of topiramate as an adjunctive treatment for pediatric patients 2 to 16 years of age with partial-onset seizures was established in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (Study 8), comparing topiramate and placebo in patients with a history of partial-onset seizures, with or without secondarily generalized seizures (see Table 13).
Patients in this study were permitted a maximum of two antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in addition to topiramate tablets or placebo. In this study, patients were stabilized on optimum dosages of their concomitant AEDs during an 8-week baseline phase. Patients who experienced at least six partial-onset seizures, with or without secondarily generalized seizures, during the baseline phase were randomly assigned to placebo or topiramate tablets in addition to their other AEDs.
Following randomization, patients began the double-blind phase of treatment. Patients received active drug beginning at 25 or 50 mg/day; the dose was then increased by 25 mg to 150 mg/day increments every other week until the assigned dosage of 125, 175, 225, or 400 mg/day based on patients’ weight to approximate a dosage of 6 mg/kg/day was reached, unless intolerance prevented increases. After titration, patients entered an 8-week stabilization period.
Patients With Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic SeizuresThe effectiveness of topiramate as an adjunctive treatment for primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in patients 2 years of age and older was established in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (Study 9), comparing a single dosage of topiramate and placebo (see Table 13).
Patients in Study 9 were permitted a maximum of two antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in addition to topiramate or placebo. Patients were stabilized on optimum dosages of their concomitant AEDs during an 8-week baseline phase. Patients who experienced at least three primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures during the baseline phase were randomly assigned to placebo or topiramate in addition to their other AEDs.
Following randomization, patients began the double-blind phase of treatment. Patients received active drug beginning at 50 mg/day for four weeks; the dose was then increased by 50 mg to 150 mg/day increments every other week until the assigned dose of 175, 225, or 400 mg/day based on patients’ body weight to approximate a dosage of 6 mg/kg/day was reached, unless intolerance prevented increases. After titration, patients entered a 12-week stabilization period.
Patients With Lennox-Gastaut SyndromeThe effectiveness of topiramate as an adjunctive treatment for seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome was established in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (Study 10) comparing a single dosage of topiramate with placebo in patients 2 years of age and older (see Table 13).
Patients in Study 10 were permitted a maximum of two antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in addition to topiramate or placebo. Patients who were experiencing at least 60 seizures per month before study entry were stabilized on optimum dosages of their concomitant AEDs during a 4-week baseline phase. Following baseline, patients were randomly assigned to placebo or topiramate in addition to their other AEDs. Active drug was titrated beginning at 1 mg/kg/day for a week; the dose was then increased to 3 mg/kg/day for one week, then to 6 mg/kg/day. After titration, patients entered an 8-week stabilization period.The primary measures of effectiveness were the percent reduction in drop attacks and a parental global rating of seizure severity.

Table 12: Topiramate Dose Summary During the Stabilization Periods of Each of Six Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Adjunctive Trials in Adults with Partial-Onset Seizuresa
Study Stabilization Dose Placebob Target Topiramate Dosage (mg/day)
200 400 600 800 1,000

2

N

42

42

40

41

Mean Dose

5.9

200

390

556

Median Dose

6.0

200

400

600

3

N

44

40

45

40

Mean Dose

9.7

544

739

796

Median Dose

10.0

600

800

1,000

4

N

23

19

Mean Dose

3.8

395

Median Dose

4.0

400

5

N

30

28

Mean Dose

5.7

522

Median Dose

6.0

600

6

N

28

25

Mean Dose

7.9

568

Median Dose

8.0

600

7

N

90

157

Mean Dose

8

200

Median Dose

8

200

a Dose-response studies were not conducted for other indications or pediatric partial-onset seizures.b Placebo dosages are given as the number of tablets. Placebo target dosages were as follows: Protocol 3 4 tablets/day; Protocols 1 and 4, 6 tablets/day; Protocols 5 and 6, 8 tablets/day; Protocol 2, 10 tablets/day.

In all adjunctive trials, the reduction in seizure rate from baseline during the entire double-blind phase was measured. The median percent reductions in seizure rates and the responder rates (fraction of patients with at least a 50% reduction) by treatment group for each study are shown below in Table 13. As described above, a global improvement in seizure severity was also assessed in the Lennox-Gastaut trial.

Table 13: Efficacy Results in Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Adjunctive Epilepsy Trials

Study #

#

Placebo

Target Topiramate Dosage (mg per day)

200

400

600

800

1,000

≈6mg/kg/day*

Partial-Onset Seizures Studies in Adults

2

N

45

45

45

46

Median % Reduction

12

27a

48b

45c

% Responders

18

24

44d

46d

3

N

47

48

48

47

Median % Reduction

2

41c

41c

36c

% Responders

9

40c

41c

36d

4

N

24

23

Median % Reduction

1

41e

% Responders

8

35d

5

N

30

30

Median % Reduction

-12

46f

% Responders

10

47c

6

N

28

28

Median % Reduction

-21

24c

% Responders

0

43c

7

N

91

168

Median % Reduction

20

44c

% Responders

24

45c

Partial-Onset Seizures Studies in Pediatric Patients

8

N

45

41

Median % Reduction

11

33d

% Responders

20

39

Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonich

9

N

40

39

Median % Reduction

9

57d

% Responders

20

56c

Lennox-Gastaut Syndromei

10

N

49

46

Median % Reduction

-5

15d

% Responders

14

28g

Improvement in Seizure Severityj

28

52d

Comparisons with placebo: a p=0.080; b p≤0.010; c p≤0.001; d p≤0.050; e p=0.065; f p≤0.005; g p=0.071;h Median % reduction and % responders are reported for PGTC seizures;i Median % reduction and % responders for drop attacks, i.e., tonic or atonic seizures j Percentage of subjects who were minimally, much, or very much improved from baseline.* For Studies 8 and 9, specified target dosages (<9.3 mg/kg/day) were assigned based on subject’s weight to approximate a dosage of 6 mg/kg per day; these dosages corresponded to mg/day dosages of 125, 175, 225, and 400 mg/day

Subset analyses of the antiepileptic efficacy of topiramate tablets in these studies showed no differences as a function of gender, race, age, baseline seizure rate, or concomitant AED.
In clinical trials for epilepsy, daily dosages were decreased in weekly intervals by 50 to 100 mg/day in adults and over a 2- to 8-week period in pediatric patients; transition was permitted to a new antiepileptic regimen when clinically indicated.

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