Brivaracetam: First Global Approval

Brivaracetam (Briviact(®)), a 4-n-propyl analogue of levetiracetam developed by UCB Pharma, has been approved in the EU as an adjunctive therapy for the treatment of partial-onset seizures. Brivaracetam binds to synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2a (SV2A) in the brain with greater selectivity and 15- to 30-fold higher affinity than levetiracetam, as demonstrated in preclinical models, and has demonstrated efficacy in reducing the frequency of partial onset seizures in clinical trials. This article summarizes the milestones in the development of brivaracetam leading to this first approval for use as adjunctive therapy for uncontrolled partial-onset seizures in adults with epilepsy.