Johnson & Johnson's popular epilepsy drug Topamax is showing promise as a treatment for migraine headaches - topiramate - Product News in Brief

Drug Cost Management Report, Oct, 2002

* Johnson & Johnson's popular epilepsy drug Topamax (topiramate) is showing promise as a treatment for migraine headaches. The company announced it will seek additional FDA approval for Topamax to be used as a preventive therapy for migraines. Topamax is currently approved to treat epileptic seizures as an adjunctive therapy, and the company is seeking further FDA approval for the drug to be used as a monotherapy for epilepsy.

Topamax is also being widely used to as an adjunctive therapy for bipolar disorder (aka manic depression), and is thought to help control the manic state of the disorder. However, J&J does not plan to pursue approval for monotherapy for this indication, because Phase III results did not show statistically significant efficacy for bipolar disorder. Information: Greg Panico, (609) 218-6132 or www.topamax.com.