TY - JOUR
T1 - Time to onset of cannabidiol (CBD) treatment effect in Lennox–Gastaut syndrome
T2 - Analysis from two randomized controlled trials
AU - Privitera, Michael
AU - Bhathal, Hari
AU - Wong, Matthew
AU - Cross, J. Helen
AU - Wirrell, Elaine
AU - Marsh, Eric D.
AU - Mazurkiewicz-Beldzinska, Maria
AU - Villanueva, Vicente
AU - Checketts, Daniel
AU - Knappertz, Volker
AU - VanLandingham, Kevan
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors thank the study participants, their families, and the study sites that participated in these trials. Medical writing and editorial support were provided to authors by Ritu Pathak, and Dena McWain of Ashfield MedComms, Middletown, Connecticut, an Ashfield Health company, and funded by Greenwich Biosciences, Inc.
Funding Information:
M.P. has received research grants from SK Life Science, Xenon Pharmaceuticals, Epilepsy Foundation, and GW Pharmaceuticals, and has served as a consultant for SK Life Science, GW Pharmaceuticals, and Neurelis. H.B. was an investigator on trials sponsored by GW Research. M.W. received funds from GW Pharmaceuticals associated with conducting this study. J.H.C.'s institution received grants from Zogenix, Marinius, and Vitaflo and other support from GW Pharmaceuticals, Nutricia, and Biomarin. Her research is supported by the National Institute of Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital. E.W. has participated on advisory boards for Biomarin and Sunovian and has received personal fees from UpToDate. E.M. has served as a consultant for Eisai Pharma and Cydan, and as a study investigator for GW Pharmaceuticals. M.M.‐B. has served as a study investigator for GW Pharmaceuticals. V.V. has received grants from Eisai and UCB, and has participated on advisory boards for Eisai, UCB, Bial, Esteve, GW Pharmaceuticals, Arvelle Therapeutics, and Novartis. D.C. is a full‐time employee of GW Research. V.K. is a full‐time employee of Greenwich Biosciences and owns shares in the company. K.V. was an employee of Greenwich Biosciences at the time this study was conducted.
Funding Information:
This study was sponsored by GW Research Ltd., Cambridge, UK.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors. Epilepsia published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International League Against Epilepsy
PY - 2021/5
Y1 - 2021/5
N2 - Objective: To estimate time to onset of cannabidiol (CBD) treatment effect (seizure reduction and adverse events [AEs]), we conducted post hoc analyses of data from two randomized, placebo-controlled, Phase 3 trials, GWPCARE3 (NCT02224560) and GWPCARE4 (NCT02224690), of patients with Lennox–Gastaut syndrome. Methods: Patients received plant-derived pharmaceutical formulation of highly purified CBD (Epidiolex, 100 mg/ml oral solution) at 10 mg/kg/day (CBD10; GWPCARE3) or 20 mg/kg/day (CBD20; both trials) or placebo for 14 weeks. Treatment started at 2.5 mg/kg/day for all groups and reached 10 mg/kg/day on Day 7 and 20 mg/kg/day (CBD20 and matching placebo only) on Day 11. Percentage change from baseline in drop seizure frequency was calculated by cumulative day (i.e., including all previous days). Time to onset and resolution of AEs were evaluated. Results: Overall, 235 patients received CBD (CBD10 [GWPCARE3 only], n = 67; CBD20 [pooled GWPCARE3&4], n = 168) and 161 received placebo. Mean (range) age was 15.3 years (2.6–48.0). Patients had previously discontinued a median (range) of six (0–28) antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and were currently taking a median of three (0–5) AEDs. Differences in drop seizure reduction between placebo and CBD emerged during the titration period and became nominally significant by Day 6 (p =.008) for pooled CBD treatment groups. Separation between placebo and CBD in ≥50% responder rate emerged by Day 6. Onset of the first reported AE occurred during the titration period in 45% of patients (CBD10, 46%; CBD20, 52%; placebo, 38%). In patients with AEs, resolution occurred within 4 weeks of onset in 53% of placebo and 39% of CBD patients and by end of study in 63% of placebo and 61% of CBD patients. Significance: Treatment effect (efficacy and AEs) of CBD may occur within 1 week of starting treatment. Although AEs lasted longer for CBD than placebo, most resolved within the 14-week period.
AB - Objective: To estimate time to onset of cannabidiol (CBD) treatment effect (seizure reduction and adverse events [AEs]), we conducted post hoc analyses of data from two randomized, placebo-controlled, Phase 3 trials, GWPCARE3 (NCT02224560) and GWPCARE4 (NCT02224690), of patients with Lennox–Gastaut syndrome. Methods: Patients received plant-derived pharmaceutical formulation of highly purified CBD (Epidiolex, 100 mg/ml oral solution) at 10 mg/kg/day (CBD10; GWPCARE3) or 20 mg/kg/day (CBD20; both trials) or placebo for 14 weeks. Treatment started at 2.5 mg/kg/day for all groups and reached 10 mg/kg/day on Day 7 and 20 mg/kg/day (CBD20 and matching placebo only) on Day 11. Percentage change from baseline in drop seizure frequency was calculated by cumulative day (i.e., including all previous days). Time to onset and resolution of AEs were evaluated. Results: Overall, 235 patients received CBD (CBD10 [GWPCARE3 only], n = 67; CBD20 [pooled GWPCARE3&4], n = 168) and 161 received placebo. Mean (range) age was 15.3 years (2.6–48.0). Patients had previously discontinued a median (range) of six (0–28) antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and were currently taking a median of three (0–5) AEDs. Differences in drop seizure reduction between placebo and CBD emerged during the titration period and became nominally significant by Day 6 (p =.008) for pooled CBD treatment groups. Separation between placebo and CBD in ≥50% responder rate emerged by Day 6. Onset of the first reported AE occurred during the titration period in 45% of patients (CBD10, 46%; CBD20, 52%; placebo, 38%). In patients with AEs, resolution occurred within 4 weeks of onset in 53% of placebo and 39% of CBD patients and by end of study in 63% of placebo and 61% of CBD patients. Significance: Treatment effect (efficacy and AEs) of CBD may occur within 1 week of starting treatment. Although AEs lasted longer for CBD than placebo, most resolved within the 14-week period.
KW - antiepileptic drug
KW - antiseizure medication
KW - childhood onset epilepsy
KW - drop seizures
KW - treatment-resistant epilepsy
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U2 - 10.1111/epi.16878
DO - 10.1111/epi.16878
M3 - Article
C2 - 33797076
AN - SCOPUS:85103950239
SN - 0013-9580
VL - 62
SP - 1130
EP - 1140
JO - Epilepsia
JF - Epilepsia
IS - 5
ER -