A recent epileptic drug trial was halted by Pfizer after the results from the clinical trial showed that the drug is as effective as stand-alone therapy for some types of seizures.
The drug that was being studied was Lyrica, which brought in more than $3 billion in sales to the drug giant last year. The study was meant to prove that Lyrica worked without having to combine it with other medications for patients suffering from partial seizures. Partial seizures occur in only one side of the brain and are the most common type of seizure, according to the Epilepsy Foundation. As to why Pfizer stopped the study, MacKay Jimeson, a company spokesman, said that “Pfizer has accepted the recommendation and has stopped the study.”
All of the information concerning the study will be posted on clinicaltrials.gov by April of 2012, Jimeson also said. While people wait for that, Pfizer plans to analyze the information from the study. This may be a welcome alternative to some other epilepsy medications out there, including Topamax, which has been linked with serious adverse side effects. In fact, Topamax has been known to cause birth defects in babies whose mothers took the drug while pregnant.
Some of the birth defects linked to Topamax include oral clefts, limb defects, heart defects and other congenital defects, spina bifida and PPHN. Many studies have shown Topamax’s risks to the fetus, but many doctors still prescribe the medication. Because of this, many women and their families have filed Topamax lawsuits. While it is hoped that Lyrica will be a great alternative to Topamax treatments, the fact that the clinical trial was halted raises questions about the drug’s safety.
If your baby was born with birth defects as a result of Topamax exposure, contact attorney Greg Jones today for a free consultation. I am experienced at helping families like yours recover understand your rights and I may be able to help you recover money for your baby’s injuries.