Posted by Michael Wonder on 06 Aug 2016
Brivaracetam in epilepsy: additional clinical benefits not seen as before
4 August 2016 - The new indirect comparison is methodologically better but there is still no evidence of an additional clinical benefit compared to lacosamide.
Brivaracetam (Briviact) was approved in January 2016 for use as adjunctive therapy for young people aged 16 years and adults with seizures. The IQWiG examined brivaracetam in an early benefit assessment in May. The indirect comparisons provided by the manufacturer were not appropriate for several reasons; among other things, the manufacturer did not present an analysis on all relevant endpoints. The manufaturer has presented another indirect comparison.
The Institute finds that the new indirect comparison is methodologically better in the addendum. Among other things, the manufacturer has included analyses on the missing endpoints. However, the analysis provides no evidence of an additional clinical benefit of brivaracetam over the appropriate comparator therapy lacosamide.
