An Open-label, Multiple-dose, Single-centre Study, Investigating the Pharmacokinetics of BIA 2-093

The screening visit was performed 2 to 21 days before the first administration of study medication, the treatment phase consisted of 12 days (of which study medication was administered during the first 8 days), and the follow-up visit was performed 15 to 19 days after the first administration of study medication.

Inclusion criteria

• Males and females at least 18 years of age.
• Female subjects had to be post-menopausal, surgically sterilized or using a reliable non-hormonal method of contraception. Examples of reliable non-hormonal methods of contraception include tubal ligation, hysterectomy, intrauterine device, or a barrier method combined with a spermicide. Hormonal contraceptives were not allowed because the effect of BIA 2-093 on the metabolism of oral contraceptives was not yet known.
• Subjects suffering from a chronic illness, other than hepatic impairment, had to have a stable condition, regarded by the investigator as not able to influence the outcome of the study.
• For subjects to be included in Group 1, a stage of moderate hepatic impairment, the extent of which, as measured by the Child-Pugh classification, resulted in recruitment into the study (Group 1 only). This did not apply to subjects that were recruited into Group 2, whose liver functioning was to be normal.
• Body mass not less than 50 kg.

Exclusion criteria

• The receipt of any investigational drug within the 30 days prior to this trial.
• Clinically significant abnormal findings (as judged by the investigator) for the following parameters, except those consistent with findings in hepatic impairment: haematology, biochemistry, clotting profile, urinalysis, vital signs or ECG screening tests.
• A history or laboratory evidence of renal impairment and/or disease. Owing to the metabolic pathway of BIA 2-093, any degree of renal impairment would have had a confounding effect on the PK analysis.
• Positive test for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-1 or HIV-2 antibodies, Hepatitis B surface antigen and Hepatitis C antibodies. HIV positive patients, and patients with Hepatitis B and C, generally have a below average, and in some cases a markedly decreased, level of health owing to the nature of the respective infections and the natural course of the diseases, both of which are often complicated by an array of opportunistic illnesses. Their ill health would be further worsened by the fact that the patients are hepatically impaired, which has its own, often debilitating, complications. If patients with HIV or Hepatitis B or C were included in the study, this could have led to statistical confusion when assessing the safety and tolerability parameters. This is because events reported by the subjects, which might be a part of the spectrum of complaints in HIV positive patients and Hepatitis B and C patients, would confound the safety and tolerability analysis. In addition, by administering the study medication to these patients, any AEs that might have occurred would add to the discomfort of the patient.
• A history of any illness that, in the opinion of the investigator and/or sponsor, might confound the results of the study or pose additional risk in administering the investigational product to the subject.
• Any planned procedures and/or devices to be performed/added during the course of the study, which might influence the evaluation of the endpoints of the study.
• Current addiction to alcohol as determined by the investigator.
• Use of any medication, prescribed or over-the-counter, except drugs indicated for the treatment of concomitant illnesses in subjects with moderate hepatic impairment, or if the drugs would not have affected the outcome of the study in the opinion of the investigator. Vitamin use was allowed, but should have been stable during the course of the study.
• Current treatment with oxcarbazepine.
• Mental incapacity, unwillingness or language barriers precluding adequate understanding or cooperation.
• Subjects with a supine pulse rate at screening, after resting for 5 min, outside the range of 50 - 100 beats per minute (bpm).
• A history of multiple and/or severe allergies to drugs or foods or a history of anaphylactic reactions.
• Known or suspected allergy to trial product or related products (e.g carbamazepine or oxcarbazepine).
• Female subjects who were pregnant or lactating.
• Previous participation in (recruitment into) this trial.
• Donation or loss of blood equal to or exceeding 500 mL during the 8 weeks before dose administration.
• Any history of a bleeding tendency, or an active bleed in the preceding 3 months.