Equivalence Among Antiepileptic Drug Generic and Brand Products in People With Epilepsy: Single-Dose 6-Period Replicate Design (EQUIGEN Single-Dose Study)

Completed · Phase 4

Conditions studied: Epilepsy

In brief

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has specific rules which generic drug companies must follow to get a generic copy of a seizure medication approved. Currently, FDA approves generic drugs by requiring studies on normal volunteers who don't have epilepsy and who take just one dose of the generic drug followed by a series of blood tests. Some people with epilepsy and their physicians have complained about side effects or loss of seizure control when taking generic drugs, but no one knows if these complaints are truly because of problems with the generic drugs. This research is to determine whether several different generic versions and the brand version of the medication lamotrigine perform in a similar way when given to people with epilepsy. The study drug Lamictal® (lamotrigine) and both of the generic forms of lamotrigine to be tested are approved by the FDA for the treatment of seizures.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01733394

Run by

University of Cincinnati

People needed

54

Starts

2012-12-12

Expected to finish

2016-09-26

Last updated by the study team

2017-07-19

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Eligible subjects must satisfy the criteria below at the time of enrollment:
• 18 years or older.
• BMI not less than 18.5 and weight not less than 110 pounds.
• Not donated blood within the past 56 days before the first pharmacokinetic testing.
• Agrees not to donate blood at any time during the trial and for 56 days after the final PK in-facility admission.
• Has epilepsy for at least one year based on site PIs assessment.
• Taking at least one AED, which is not the study medication (lamotrigine).
• No changes in AED regimen for at least 28 days prior to first pharmacokinetic testing.
• Have the ability to understand the informed consent form and be willing to provide informed consent.
• Willing to remain on same AED regimen through entire study. Subjects will be responsible to supply all of their concomitant medications (except for the study medication, lamotrigine).
• Willing to stay approximately 14 hours in the research facility on six separate occasions for pharmacokinetic testing.
• Willing to fast overnight and the morning of each of the six pharmacokinetic testing sessions.
• Willing to have at least 23 blood samples collected during the pharmacokinetic testing including the in-facility session and each of the following four mornings for 96 hours post the study medication dose to complete the sample collection for each of the 6 periods. The in-facility blood collections will mainly be performed using an inserted catheter. In the event of difficulty with the catheter, samples may be drawn by venipuncture. The outpatient collections will be drawn by venipuncture. The total amount of blood during each PK session will be equal to about 14 teaspoons (66.5 milliliters). The total amount of blood drawn throughout the entire study will be about 96 teaspoons (478.5 milliliters) or less. For reference, this amount is approximately equal to the quantity of blood drawn during a standard blood donation by the Red Cross.
• Willing to completely abstain from alcohol consumption for at least 24 hours prior to each pharmacokinetic testing admission until after the last sample is drawn for each period (\~96 hours after the initial dose at each pharmacokinetic admission). We encourage no or minimal alcohol use throughout the study, but alcohol is not restricted at other times.
• Willing to remain on a consistent regimen of concomitant medications including over-the-counter drugs and herbal drugs, if they are being used and deemed to possibly affect the metabolism of the study medication.
• Willing to not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice through the duration of the study.
• If a tobacco user, willing to continue with the same pattern of tobacco use, except that no tobacco use is permitted during the PK facility admissions of approximately 14 hours (includes all tobacco products).
• Willing to complete the subject diary as outlined in the protocol.
• Willing to adhere to all other protocol requirements as outlined in the informed consent document.
• Females must be either of non-childbearing potential (defined as having undergone surgical sterilization or postmenopausal (greater than 50 years old and amenorrhea for greater than or equal to 12 months) or must be using at least one acceptable method of contraception as follows:
• Double-barrier method (e.g. condom plus spermicide, condom plus diaphragm with spermicide)
• Hormonal contraceptive treatment (progesterone only agents - use of any agents containing estrogen are an exclusion for the lamotrigine testing)
• Intrauterine Device (IUD)
• Monogamous relationship with a vasectomized partner
• Abstinent for 8 weeks prior to and throughout the study.

You may not qualify if…

• Progressive CNS disorder that could influence adverse effects or seizure control.
• Known medication non-adherence. Non-adherence is assessed by the investigator based on the procedures defined in the manual of procedures.
• Taking the study medication (lamotrigine) within 28 days of enrollment.
• Use of valproate (as divalproex sodium or valproic acid), any form of estrogens, rifampin, orlistat, felbamate or sertraline within 28 days of study entry.
• Subject has a history of alcohol or substance abuse within 1 year prior to screening for study participation, or is currently using alcohol, drugs of abuse, or any prescribed or over-the-counter medication in a manner, which, in the opinion of the Investigator, indicates abuse.
• History of psychogenic seizures within the past 2 years.
• Any clinically significant psychiatric illness or psychological or behavioral problem which, in the opinion of the investigator, could interfere with the subject being able to participate in the study or comply with the study requirements. .
• Any clinically significant laboratory abnormality or illness which, in the opinion of the investigator, could interfere with the conducting or interpretation of the study or put the subject at risk.
• History of allergic reaction with past use of the study medication (lamotrigine).
• More than two allergic reactions (actual allergy, not medication intolerance) to an AED or one serious hypersensitivity reaction to an AED.
• History of adverse effect associated with past use of the study medication (lamotrigine) which, in the opinion of the investigator, could pose substantial risk to the subject if it occurred during the trial.
• Pregnant or lactating within 56 days of enrollment.
• Unstable seizure control that makes AED changes likely during the course of the study.
• Use of rescue AEDs (e.g. benzodiazepines) during more than two weeks of the 2 months prior to enrollment.
• Subject is in the process of quitting smoking within 28 days of study entry or plans to quit smoking during the period of time the study will be conducted.

Where it is running

• University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, Alabama, United States
• Drake University — Des Moines, Iowa, United States
• University of Iowa — Iowa City, Iowa, United States
• University of Kansas — Kansas City, Kansas, United States
• Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, Massachusetts, United States
• University of Rochester Medical Center — Rochester, New York, United States
• University of Cincinnati Medical Center — Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
• University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, Wisconsin, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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