Efficacy of Nafimidone in the Treatment of Intractable Partial Seizures: Report of a Two-Center Pilot Study

Nafimidone is a potential new antiepileptic drug with a therapeutic profile in experimental animal seizure models similar to that of phenytoin (PHT). We report here the first clinical trial of nafimidone in epileptic patients. Twelve adult male patients with a mean of four or more medically intractable seizures per month were enrolled in a 14-week pilot study. Patients were stabilized on therapeutic levels of PHT and carbamazepine (CBZ) (nine patients) or on PHT alone (three patients) before entering a 4-week baseline period. Nafimidone, to a maximum dose of 600 mg/day, was added during 2 weeks in hospital. Patients were then evaluated weekly for 8 weeks. Eight patients experienced 33-98% improvement in seizure control. Three others did not show significant change in seizure frequency but experienced sufficient subjective improvement that they continued into long-term follow-up. One patient, who had a 63% improvement in mean weekly seizures during the pilot study, declined to continue. Thus, 10 patients entered long-term follow-up. Six of the 10 sustained 53 to greater than 99% improvement in seizure control compared with baseline over the course of 46-53 weeks of follow-up. Nafimidone had a marked inhibitory effect on the clearance of CBZ and PHT, resulting in higher plasma levels in nine patients. The possible role of the elevated CBZ levels in the apparent efficacy of nafimidone is discussed.