DrugLib.com — Drug Information Portal

Rx drug information, pharmaceutical research, clinical trials, news, and more



Miglustat: a review of its use in Niemann-Pick disease type C.

Author(s): Lyseng-Williamson KA.

Affiliation(s): Author information: Adis, 41 Centorian Drive, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, North Shore, 0754, Auckland, New Zealand, demail@springer.com.

Publication date & source: 2014, Drugs. , 74(1):61-74

Miglustat (Zavesca®, Brazaves®), a small iminosugar molecule that reversibly inhibits glycosphingolipid synthesis, is the only disease-specific drug approved for the treatment of progressive neurological manifestations of Niemann-Pick disease type C (NP-C) in adult and paediatric patients. NP-C is a rare, autosomal-recessive lipid storage disorder characterized by impaired intracellular lipid trafficking and progressive neurological symptoms leading to premature death. In a randomized clinical trial, long-term extension studies and a retrospective observational cohort study, treatment with oral miglustat stabilized key neurological manifestations of NP-C (including horizontal saccadic eye movement peak velocity, ambulation, manipulation, language and swallowing) in paediatric and adult patients with the disease. The therapeutic effects of miglustat in stabilizing or slowing disease progression have been confirmed in other reports in the clinical experience setting. The primary tolerability issues associated with miglustat are mild to moderate gastrointestinal effects (e.g. diarrhoea, flatulence and abdominal pain/discomfort) and weight loss, which usually occur during initial therapy and are generally manageable. In the absence of a cure, miglustat is a valuable agent to reduce the progression of clinically relevant neurological symptoms in paediatric and adult patients with NP-C, which is considered a significant achievement in the treatment of this disease.

Page last updated: 2014-11-30

-- advertisement -- The American Red Cross
 
Home | About Us | Contact Us | Site usage policy | Privacy policy

All Rights reserved - Copyright DrugLib.com, 2006-2017