FDA

Brivaracetam

Approved 9 Jun 2022OralTablet

The FDA lists this product in 49 strengths and forms.

Indications

Brivaracetam tablets are indicated for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in patients 1 month of age and older. Brivaracetam tablets are indicated for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in patients 1 month of age and older.

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to brivaracetam or any of the inactive ingredients in brivaracetam tablets (bronchospasm and angioedema have occurred) [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] . Hypersensitivity to brivaracetam or any of the inactive ingredients in brivaracetam tablets. ( 4 )

Warnings and precautions

Suicidal Behavior and Ideation : Monitor patients for suicidal behavior and ideation. ( 5.1 ) Neurological Adverse Reactions : Monitor for somnolence and fatigue, and advise patients not to drive or operate machinery until they have gained sufficient experience on brivaracetam. ( 5.2 ) Psychiatric Adverse Reactions : Behavioral reactions including psychotic symptoms, irritability, depression, aggressive behavior, and anxiety; monitor patients for symptoms.

( 5.3 ) Hypersensitivity: Bronchospasm and Angioedema : Advise patients to seek immediate medical care. Discontinue and do not restart brivaracetam if hypersensitivity occurs. ( 5.4 ) Serious Dermatologic Reactions : Discontinue brivaracetam unless an alternative etiology is established ( 5.5 ) Withdrawal of Antiepileptic Drugs : brivaracetam should be gradually withdrawn. ( 5.6 )

5.1Suicidal Behavior and Ideation

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), including brivaracetam, increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior in patients taking these drugs for any indication. Patients treated with any AED for any indication should be monitored for the emergence or worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, and/or any unusual changes in mood or behavior. Pooled analyses of 199 placebo-controlled clinical trials (mono- and adjunctive therapy) of 11 different AEDs showed that patients randomized to one of the AEDs had approximately twice the risk (adjusted Relative Risk 1.8, 95% CI:1.2, 2.7) of suicidal thinking or behavior compared to patients randomized to placebo.

In these trials, which had a median treatment duration of 12 weeks, the estimated incidence rate of suicidal behavior or ideation among 27,863 AED-treated patients was 0.43%, compared to 0.24% among 16,029 placebo-treated patients, representing an increase of approximately one case of suicidal thinking or behavior for every 530 patients treated. There were four suicides in drug-treated patients in the trials and none in placebo-treated patients, but the number is too small to allow any conclusion about drug effect on suicide.

At a glance

Brand name: Brivaracetam
Route: Oral
Dosage form: Tablet
Applicant: Sunshine
Status: Prescription
FDA approval: 9 Jun 2022
Application: ANDA214748-002

Warnings and precautions

5.1Suicidal Behavior and Ideation

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

8.1Pregnancy Pregnancy Exposure Registry

There is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), such as brivaracetam, during pregnancy. Encourage patients who are taking brivaracetam during pregnancy to enroll in the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) Pregnancy Registry by calling the toll free number 1-888-233-2334 or visiting http://www.aedpregnancyregistry.org/. Risk Summary Available data from the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) pregnancy registry, a prospective cohort study, case reports, and a case series are insufficient to identify a risk of major birth defects, miscarriage or other maternal or fetal outcomes associated with brivaracetam use during pregnancy.

In animal studies, brivaracetam produced evidence of developmental toxicity (increased embryofetal mortality and decreased fetal body weights in rabbits; decreased growth, delayed sexual maturation, and long-term neurobehavioral changes in rat offspring) at maternal plasma exposures greater than clinical exposures [see Data ] . The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown.

All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively. Data Animal Data Oral administration of brivaracetam (0, 150, 300, or 600 mg/kg/day) to pregnant rats during the period of organogenesis did not produce any significant maternal or embryofetal toxicity.

The highest dose tested was associated with maternal plasma exposures (AUC) approximately 30 times exposures in humans at the maximum recommended dose (MRD) of 200 mg/day. Oral administration of brivaracetam (0, 30, 60, 120, or 240 mg/kg/day) to pregnant rabbits during the period of organogenesis resulted in embryofetal mortality and decreased fetal body weights at the highest dose tested, which was also maternally toxic.

The highest no-effect dose (120 mg/kg/day) was associated with maternal plasma exposures approximately 4 times human exposures at the MRD. When brivaracetam (0, 150, 300, or 600 mg/kg/day) was orally administered to rats throughout pregnancy and lactation, decreased growth, delayed sexual maturation (female), and long-term neurobehavioral changes were observed in the offspring at the highest dose. The highest no-effect dose (300 mg/kg/day) was associated with maternal plasma exposures approximately 7 times human exposures at the MRD.

Brivaracetam was shown to readily cross the placenta in pregnant rats after a single oral (5 mg/kg) dose of 14 C-brivaracetam. From 1 hour post dose, radioactivity levels in fetuses, amniotic fluid, and placenta were similar to those measured in maternal blood.

Adverse reactions

The following serious adverse reactions are described elsewhere in labeling: Suicidal Behavior and Ideation [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Neurological Adverse Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Psychiatric Adverse Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Hypersensitivity: Bronchospasm and Angioedema [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] Serious Dermatologic Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] Withdrawal of Antiepileptic Drugs [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] Adults: Most common adverse reactions (at least 5% for brivaracetam and at least 2% more frequently than placebo) are somnolence/sedation, dizziness, fatigue, and nausea/vomiting.

( 6.1 ) Pediatric Patients Most common adverse reactions are similar to those seen in adult patients. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Solaris Pharma Corporation at 1-833-919-0527 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch .

6.1Clinical Trials Experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. In all controlled and uncontrolled trials performed in adult epilepsy patients, brivaracetam was administered as adjunctive therapy to 2437 patients. Of these patients, 1929 were treated for at least 6 months, 1500 for at least 12 months, 1056 for at least 24 months, and 758 for at least 36 months.

A total of 1558 patients (1099 patients treated with brivaracetam and 459 patients treated with placebo) constituted the safety population in the pooled analysis of Phase 3 placebo-controlled studies in patients with partial-onset seizures (Studies 1, 2, and 3) [see Clinical Studies (14) ] . The adverse reactions presented in Table 4 are based on this safety population; the median length of treatment in these studies was 12 weeks.

Of the patients in those studies, approximately 51% were male, 74% were Caucasian, and the mean age was 38 years. In the Phase 3 controlled epilepsy studies, adverse events occurred in 68% of patients treated with brivaracetam and 62% treated with placebo. The most common adverse reactions occurring at a frequency of at least 5% in patients treated with brivaracetam doses of at least 50 mg/day and greater than placebo were somnolence and sedation (16%), dizziness (12%), fatigue (9%), and nausea and vomiting symptoms (5%).

The discontinuation rates due to adverse events were 5%, 8%, and 7% for patients randomized to receive brivaracetam at the recommended doses of 50 mg, 100 mg, and 200 mg/day, respectively, compared to 4% in patients randomized to receive placebo. Table 4 lists adverse reactions for brivaracetam that occurred at least 2% more frequently for brivaracetam doses of at least 50 mg/day than placebo. Table 4: Adverse Reactions in Pooled Placebo-Controlled Adjunctive Therapy Studies in Adult Patients with Partial-Onset Seizures (Brivaracetam 50 mg/day, 100 mg/day, and 200 mg/day) Adverse Reactions Brivaracetam (N = 803) % Placebo (N = 459) % Gastrointestinal disorders Nausea/vomiting symptoms 5 3 Constipation 2 0 Nervous system disorders Somnolence and sedation 16 8 Dizziness 12 7 Fatigue 9 4 Cerebellar coordination and balance disturbances Cerebellar coordination and balance disturbances includes ataxia, balance disorder, coordination abnormal, and nystagmus. 3 1 Psychiatric disorders Irritability 3 1 There was no apparent dose-dependent increase in adverse reactions listed in Table 4 with the exception of somnolence and sedation.

Pediatric Patients Safety of brivaracetam was evaluated in two open-label, safety and pharmacokinetic trials in pediatric patients 2 months to less than 16 years of age. Across studies of pediatric patients with partial onset seizures, 186 patients received brivaracetam oral solution or tablet, of whom 123 received brivaracetam for at least 12 months. Adverse reactions reported in clinical studies of pediatric patients were generally similar to those seen in adult patients.Decreased appetite was also observed in these pediatric trials.

Hematologic Abnormalities Brivaracetam can cause hematologic abnormalities. In the Phase 3 controlled adjunctive epilepsy studies, a total of 1.8% of brivaracetam-treated patients and 1.1% of placebo-treated patients had at least one clinically significant decreased white blood cell count (< 3.0 × 10 9 /L), and 0.3% of brivaracetam-treated patients and 0% of placebo-treated patients had at least one clinically significant decreased neutrophil count (< 1.0 × 10 9 /L).

Comparison by Sex There were no significant differences by sex in the incidence of adverse reactions.

6.2Postmarketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been identified during post approval use of brivaracetam. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders : Serious dermatologic reactions (e.g., Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis) [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ) ]

Brivaracetam

Indications

Contraindications

Warnings and precautions

5.1Suicidal Behavior and Ideation

At a glance

Two medicines in one question?

Brivaracetam

Indications

Contraindications

Warnings and precautions

5.1Suicidal Behavior and Ideation

At a glance

Two medicines in one question?

5.2Neurological Adverse Reactions

5.3Psychiatric Adverse Reactions

5.4Hypersensitivity: Bronchospasm and Angioedema

5.5Serious Dermatologic Reactions

Interactions

7.1Rifampin Co-administration

7.2Carbamazepine Co-administration

7.3Phenytoin

7.4Levetiracetam

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

8.1Pregnancy Pregnancy Exposure Registry

Adverse reactions

6.1Clinical Trials Experience

6.2Postmarketing Experience

Composition

Strengths and forms

Official product information