UCB says epilepsy drug test positive for infants

BRUSSELS, April 20 (Reuters) - Belgian pharmaceutical group UCB UCBBt.BR said on Friday its epilepsy drug Keppra had produced positive Phase III trial results for treating children of between one month and four years.

Keppra was shown significantly to reduce the frequency of partial onset seizure, the company said in a statement.

In the study, 43.1 percent of Keppra-treated patients experienced at least a 50 percent reduction in seizure frequency during the evaluation period of five days compared with 19.6 percent of placebo-treated patients.

The most common adverse reactions were drowsiness and irritability.

"On the basis of these positive results in younger patients with treatment-resistant partial seizures we intend to file a supplementary new drug application for Keppra," Peter Verdru, Vice President, CNS Clinical Development of UCB said in a statement.

Keppra is UCB's top-selling drug and has already been cleared for use for certain treatments of adults and older children in the United States and Europe.

((Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; editing by Paul Bolding; Reuters messaging: philip.blenkinsop.reuters.com@reuters.net; +32 2 287 6838, fax +32 2 230 7710; belgium.newsroom@reuters.com)) Keywords: UCB KEPPRA/

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