Broadening global access to epilepsy treatment: an update from Rwanda

I am proud to announce a significant milestone in our mission to broaden access to antiseizure medications in low- and middle-income communities: Levetiracetam UCB 500 mg is now publicly available and reimbursed for Rwandese people with epilepsy who need this treatment, going a step further after its funding by private insurance schemes since May.

Nearly 80% of people with epilepsy live in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), where treatment gaps exceed 75% in most low-income countries and 50% in most middle-income countries. Epilepsy remains an important cause of disability and mortality in underserved areas, with many lacking adequate treatment due to constraints such as limited healthcare, unequal resources, a lack of access and awareness as well as stigmatization.

As a company with a rich heritage in epilepsy, with over three decades of expertise in epilepsy research and development, we want to play our part to contribute to possible solutions that address unmet medical needs of people living with epilepsy. This is why we are implementing new business models and approaches to reach underserved people with epilepsy. As part of our social business roadmap, we aim to enhance access to our generic antiseizure treatments in countries with a high prevalence of epilepsy.

Today’s news marks the first time that one of our solutions against epilepsy, that is on the WHO Essential Medicines List since 2023, is having received a marketing authorization by a regulatory authority and is being made available in a sub-Saharan country by UCB.

In early 2024, we received confirmation from the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority that Levetiracetam UCB 500 mg had been registered and approved for use within the country. This medicine is indicated as monotherapy in the treatment of partial onset seizures with or without secondary generalization in adults and adolescents over 16 years with newly diagnosed epilepsy. It's also indicated as adjunctive therapy of partial onset seizures with or without secondary generalisation in adults, adolescents, and infants from 1 month of age with epilepsy, in the treatment of myoclonic seizures in adults and adolescents from 12 years of age with Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy, in the treatment of primary generalised tonic-clonic seizures in adults and adolescents from 12 years of age with Idiopathic Generalised Epilepsy.

Stay tuned for more updates on our commitment to bringing solutions to those who need them most in other underserved communities.