touchNEUROLOGY met with Prof. Michael Sperling (Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA) to discuss a subgroup analysis from a phase 3 safety study investigating the use of diazepam nasal spray in patients with seizure clusters concomitantly receiving clobazam. Diazepam nasal spray is an FDA-approved nasal spray version of diazepam, indicated for the treatment of acute, intermittent, and stereotypic episodes of frequent seizure activity in epilepsy patients six years of age and older.
The abstract entitled: ‘Evaluation of Diazepam Nasal Spray in Patients with Seizure Clusters Concomitantly Receiving Clobazam: A Subgroup Analysis from a Completed Phase 3, Long-Term, Open-Label Safety Study’, was presented at the American Epilepsy Society (AES) Annual Meeting, 3-7 December 2021.
Questions:
- How common is the concomitant use of diazepam nasal spray and benzodiazepines in the treatment of seizure clusters in patients with epilepsy?
- Could you give us a brief overview of the long-term safety study evaluating the effectiveness and safety of diazepam nasal spray?
- What were the aims and design of the current subanalysis?
- What did the findings teach us about the impact of concomitant benzodiazepines on the effectiveness and safety profile of diazepam nasal spray?
- What is the clinical significance of this study?
Disclosures: Michael Sperling has received compensation for speaking at CME programs from Medscape, Projects for Knowledge, International Medical Press, Eisai, and UCB Pharma. He is an advisor for scientific publications for Neurelis. He consults for Medtronic and J & J. He has received research support from Eisai; Medtronic; Neurelis; SK Life Science; Takeda; Xenon; Cerevel; UCB Pharma; and Engage Pharmaceuticals. He has received royalties from Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press.
Support: Interview and filming supported by Touch Medical Media. Interview conducted by Katey Gabrysch.
Filmed as a highlight of AES, 2021
