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Objective The objective of this study was to analyze clinical patterns of visual field defects (VFDs) reported with topiramate treatment and assess possible mechanism of action (MOA) for antiepileptic drug (AED) associated VFDs. Methods A comprehensive topiramate database review included preclinical data, sponsor's clinical trials database, postmarketing spontaneous reports, and medical literature. All treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) suggestive of retinal dysfunction/damage were summarized. Relative risk (RR) was computed from topiramate double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (DBPCTs) data. Results Preclinical studies and medical literature review suggested that despite sharing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic MOA with other AEDs, topiramate treatment was not associated with VFDs. TEAEs suggestive of retinal dysfunction/damage were observed in 0.3%-0.7% of adults and pediatric patients with topiramate (N=4,679) versus ≤0.1% with placebo (N=1,834) in DBPCTs for approved indications (epilepsy and migraine prophylaxis); open-label trials (OLTs) and DBPCTs for investigational indications had similar incidence. Overall, 88% TEAEs were mild or moderate in severity. Serious TEAEs were very rare (DBPCTs: 0%; OLTs: ≤0.1%), and most were not treatment limiting, and resolved. The most common visual TEAEs (approved indications) were VFD, scotoma, and optic atrophy. The incidence of TEAEs in DBPCTs (approved and investigational indications) was higher in topiramate-treated (N=9,169) versus placebo-treated patients (N=5,023; 0.36% vs 0.24%), but the RR versus placebo-treated patients was not significant (RR: 1.51 [95% confidence interval: 0.78, 2.91]). Conclusion VFDs do not appear to be a class effect for AEDs with GABA-ergic MOA. The RR for VFDs is not significantly different between topiramate and placebo treatment.

Muraglitazar/BMS-298585 (2) has been identified as a non-thiazolidinedione PPAR alpha/gamma dual agonist that shows potent activity in vitro at human PPARalpha (EC(50) = 320 nM) and PPARgamma(EC(50) = 110 nM). Compound 2 shows excellent efficacy for lowering glucose, insulin, triglycerides, and free fatty acids in genetically obese, severely diabetic db/db mice and has a favorable ADME profile. Compound 2 is currently in clinical development for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia.

The dermal toxicity of four antimicrobial-steroid cream formulations, tolnaf-tate 1%/hydrocortisone 0.5% (TH), clotrimazole 1%/hydrocortisone 0.5% (CH), clotrimazole 1%/betamethasone 0.06% (CB), and clotrimazole 1%/gentamkin 0.1%/betamethasone 0.05% (CGB), was compared in separate studies. All cream formulations were applied to the intact skin of rabbits for 21–25 consecutive days. For comparison, two control groups were used in each study: one dosed with the appropriate vehicle and one nmfreated group.The results of these studies have shown that erythema produced on intact rabbit skin by each of the medicated cream formulations was equivalent or slightly less than that produced by each of the corresponding vehicles. There was no significant difference between the medicated and vehicle creams in the time of onset of erythema or in the incidence of edema, atonia, papules, pustules, desquamation, wrinkling, fissuring, or skin thickness. These findings suggest that tolnaftate, hydrocortisone, clotrim...