Studies are currently being conducted to test Pfizer’s new drug Pregabalin’s safety and efficacy in treating patients with epilepsy. So far, the studies on Pregabalin are showing mixed results.
For its part, Pfizer has been explaining how company scientists have been conducting a double-blind, phase 3 study on Pregabalin in its controlled release formula. The goal of this placebo-controlled study is to see how the drug will affect patients who suffer from seizures. During the study, researchers used Pregabalin in 165 mg and 330 mg doses. What they learned was that it didn’t pose any significant change in the amount of seizures that the epilepsy patient suffered. However, according to Steven Romano, senior vice-president and head of the Medicines Development Group Global Primary Care Business Unit at Pfizer, those results showed a “higher than expected placebo response.”
“Lyrica immediate release has a proven success record in patients with epilepsy and we look forward to understanding further the potential role of a once-a-day Pregabalin formulation,” he added.
Should Pregabalin prove to work as an anti-seizure medication, it could help pregnant women who suffer from epilepsy in the future. Current epilepsy treatments can prove harmful to babies whose mothers take the drugs while pregnant. One of those medications is the widely used Topamax. Topamax is an anti-seizure medication that has been proven to cause birth defects in babies whose mothers take the drug while pregnant. Some of the birth defects linked to Topamax use include PPHN, spina bifida, neural tube defects and oral clefts.
If your baby has suffered from birth defects after being exposed to Topamax in-utero, contact attorney Greg Jones today for a free consultation. I am experienced at fighting Topamax lawsuits and may be able to help you recover money for your child’s injury.