zonisamide

Trade name: Zonegran

Small moleculeapproved

Approved

Mar 27, 2000

Zonisamide is an antiseizure drug chemically classified as a sulfonamide and unrelated to other antiseizure agents. The precise mechanism by which zonisamide exerts its antiseizure effect is unknown, although it is believed that the drug blocks sodium and calcium channels, which leads to the suppression of neuronal hypersynchronization (i.e. convulsions). Sonisamide has also been found to potentiate dopaminergic and serotonergic neurotransmission but does not appear to potentiate syanptic activity by GABA (gamma amino butyric acid). Zonisamide binds to sodium channels and voltage sensitive calcium channels, which suppresses neuronal depolarization and hypersynchronization. Zonisamide also inhibits carbonic anhydrase to a weaker extent, but such an effect is not thought to contribute substantially to the drug's anticonvulsant activity. Zonisamide is approved in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia for adjunctive treatment of partial seizures in adults and in Japan for both adjunctive and monotherapy for partial seizures (simple, complex, secondarily generalized), generalized (tonic, tonic-clonic (grand mal), and atypical absence) and combined seizures. — NCATS

Clinical trial activity

72 trials · 79 clinical orgs · 28 marketing orgs

Phase 1
10
Phase 2
36
Phase 3
20
Phase 4
22

Earliest trial started Feb 1, 2002 (NCT00056576)

Timeline

2000s

  1. Mar 27, 2000

    Advanz Pharma — Earliest FDA Approval

  2. Mar 27, 2000

    Sunovion — NDA Secondary Org

  3. Mar 27, 2000

    Advanz Pharma — Marketing Organization

  4. Mar 27, 2000

    Advanz Pharma — NDA Secondary Org

  5. Mar 27, 2000

    Advanz Pharma — NDA Organization

  6. Jan 1, 2002

    Earliest Phase 2 Sponsor(trial)

  7. Jan 1, 2002

    Earliest Phase 3 Sponsor(trial)

  8. Jan 1, 2003

    Mylan — Earliest Phase 1 Sponsor(trial)

  9. Dec 22, 2005

    Rising Pharmaceuticals — Marketing Organization

  10. Dec 22, 2005

    Ani Pharmaceuticals — Marketing Organization

  11. Dec 22, 2005

    Apotex — Marketing Organization

  12. Dec 22, 2005

    Aurobindo Pharma — Marketing Organization

  13. Dec 22, 2005

    Mylan — Marketing Organization

  14. Dec 22, 2005

    Roxane Laboratories — Marketing Organization

  15. Dec 22, 2005

    Upsher-Smith Laboratories — Marketing Organization

  16. Dec 22, 2005

    Wockhardt — Marketing Organization

  17. Dec 22, 2005

    Celltrion — Marketing Organization

  18. Dec 22, 2005

    Granules India — Marketing Organization

  19. Dec 22, 2005

    Boehringer Ingelheim — Marketing Organization

  20. Dec 22, 2005

    PHARMOBEDIENT — Marketing Organization

  21. Jan 30, 2006

    Glenmark Pharmaceuticals — Marketing Organization

  22. Mar 17, 2006

    Sun Pharmaceuticals — Marketing Organization

  23. Apr 20, 2006

    Watson Pharmaceuticals — Marketing Organization

  24. Apr 20, 2006

    Heritage Pharma — Marketing Organization

  25. Apr 20, 2006

    Chartwell Pharmaceuticals — Marketing Organization

  26. May 31, 2006

    Invagen Pharms — Marketing Organization

  27. Aug 16, 2006

    Bluepharma — Marketing Organization

  28. Aug 16, 2006

    Bionpharma Inc — Marketing Organization

  29. Oct 16, 2006

    Zydus Discovery DMCC — Marketing Organization

  30. Oct 16, 2006

    Cadila Healthcare — Marketing Organization

  31. Feb 21, 2007

    Epic Pharma Llc — Marketing Organization

2020s

  1. Jan 26, 2021

    Unichem — Marketing Organization

  2. Jul 15, 2022

    Azurity — Marketing Organization

  3. Jul 15, 2022

    Azurity — NDA Secondary Org

  4. May 12, 2025

    Macleods Pharmaceuticals, Ltd — Marketing Organization

Indications

Approved for

Mechanism of action

Approval history

  • approvedMar 27, 2000

Chemistry & pharmacology

Loading structure…

SMILES

NS(=O)(=O)CC1=NOC2=C1C=CC=C2
Mol. weight
212.226 g/mol
Lipinski Ro5
Pass
Rule of 3
No
Chirality
Racemic Mixture
Inorganic
No
Polymer
No
Delivery
Oral
Availability
Prescription Only

Oral

Yes

Parenteral

No

Topical

No

Sources

Also known as

  • 1,2-benzisoxazole-3-methanesulfonamide
  • 1,2-benzisoxazole-3-methanesulfonamide
  • 1,2-benzisoxazole-3-methanesulfonamide
  • 3-(sulfamoylmethyl)-1,2-benzisoxazole
  • 3-(sulfamoylmethyl)-1,2-benzisoxazole
  • 3-sulfamoylmethyl-1,2-benzisoxazole
  • ad 810
  • ad-810
  • ad-810
  • ad-810
  • benzo[d]isoxazol-3-yl-methanesulfonamide
  • benzo[d]isoxazol-3-yl-methanesulfonamide
  • ci 912
  • ci-912
  • ci-912
  • ci-912
  • elan brand of zonisamide
  • exceglan
  • excegram
  • excegran
  • pd-110843
  • pd-110843
  • zonegran
  • zonegran
  • zonegran
  • zonegran
  • zonegran
  • zonegran
  • zonisamida
  • zonisamida
  • zonisamide
  • zonisamide
  • zonisamide
  • zonisamide
  • zonisamide
  • zonisamide
  • zonisamide
  • zonisamide
  • zonisamide
  • zonisamide
  • zonisamide
  • zonisamide
  • zonisamide monosodium
  • zonisamidum
  • zonisamidum

Clinical trials

NCT IDPhaseStart dateSponsor(s)
NCT06534502Phase 4Sep 30, 2024Azurity Pharmaceuticals
NCT06967012Phase 4Aug 1, 2024Nantong University
NCT06347497Phase 3Apr 1, 2024Kafrelsheikh University
NCT06361446Phase 3Mar 29, 2024Kafrelsheikh University
NCT05134857Phase 2Dec 31, 2021Washington State University
NCT05205811Phase 3Dec 14, 2021Foundation for a Smoke-Free World, Rose Research Center, LLC
NCT04774250Phase 2Oct 31, 2021Department of Defense, Gateway Biotechnology, Inc., University of Texas, Galveston, Washington University in St. Louis
NCT04768569Phase 2Aug 31, 2021Department of Defense, Gateway Biotechnology, Inc., University of Akron, University of Texas, Galveston, Washington University in St. Louis
NCT04939675N/AJul 1, 2021National Taiwan University
NCT04650204Phase 4Dec 15, 2020Mayo Clinic, National Cancer Institute (NCI)
NCT04388319Phase 3Jun 1, 2020Foundation for a Smoke-Free World, Rose Research Center, LLC
NCT04182399N/ADec 15, 2019Ain Shams University
NCT03689114Phase 4Jan 31, 2019Azienda Ospedaliera San Gerardo di Monza, Government of Italy, Mario Negri Institute
NCT03376139Phase 2Oct 1, 2018Baylor University, Department of Defense, Department of Veteran Affairs, Pharmacotherapies for Alcohol and Substance Abuse Consortium
NCT02707965Phase 4Jul 1, 2017Food and Drug Administration, University of Maryland
NCT02049073Phase 1/Phase 2 (Phase 2)Jun 1, 2017Washington University in St. Louis
NCT02900352Phase 1Oct 1, 2016Yale University
NCT02901041Phase 3Sep 1, 2016Boston University, Mclean Hospital, University of Houston
NCT03034538Phase 4Apr 8, 2016Rowan University
NCT02368431Phase 3Mar 1, 2015Department of Veteran Affairs
Showing 20 of 72 trials
Page 1 / 4

Organizations

Research & Development (79)

OrganizationOrg typeTrialsAs lead sponsorPhasesEarliest year
EisaiFor profit231932002
Boston UniversityAcademic/Hospital4432006
Department of DefenseGovernment4012013
Department of Veteran AffairsGovernment4232003
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)Government3022006
Orexigen Therapeutics, IncFor profit3312006
Washington University in St. LouisAcademic/Hospital3312017
Yale UniversityAcademic/Hospital3322012
Dr. Reddy's LaboratoriesFor profit2212005
Duke UniversityAcademic/Hospital2122006
Elan PharmaceuticalsFor profit2222002
Eli LillyFor profit2112006
Foundation for a Smoke-Free WorldAcademic/Hospital2012020
Gateway Biotechnology, Inc.For profit2012021
Johns Hopkins UniversityAcademic/Hospital2212010
Kafrelsheikh UniversityAcademic/Hospital2212024
Kendle International Inc.For profit2012003
Mutual PharmaceuticalFor profit2212005
MylanFor profit2212003
PharmaNet (2006)For profit2012005
79 organizations
Page 1 / 4

Marketing (42)

OrganizationOrg typeRelationshipDate
Advanz PharmaFor profitMKTGMar 27, 2000
Advanz PharmaFor profitNDA2Mar 27, 2000
Advanz PharmaFor profitNDAMar 27, 2000
Advanz PharmaFor profitSYNMar 27, 2000
Ani PharmaceuticalsFor profitMKTGDec 22, 2005
Ani PharmaceuticalsFor profitSYNDec 22, 2005
ApotexFor profitMKTGDec 22, 2005
ApotexFor profitSYNDec 22, 2005
Aurobindo PharmaFor profitMKTGDec 22, 2005
AzurityFor profitMKTGJul 15, 2022
AzurityFor profitNDA2Jul 15, 2022
Bionpharma IncFor profitMKTGAug 16, 2006
Bionpharma IncFor profitSYNAug 16, 2006
BluepharmaFor profitMKTGAug 16, 2006
Boehringer IngelheimFor profitMKTGDec 22, 2005
Cadila HealthcareFor profitMKTGOct 16, 2006
CelltrionFor profitMKTGDec 22, 2005
Chartwell PharmaceuticalsFor profitMKTGApr 20, 2006
Epic Pharma LlcFor profitMKTGFeb 21, 2007
Glenmark PharmaceuticalsFor profitMKTGJan 30, 2006
Glenmark PharmaceuticalsFor profitSYNJan 30, 2006
Glenmark PharmaceuticalsFor profitSYNJan 30, 2006
Granules IndiaFor profitMKTGDec 22, 2005
Heritage PharmaFor profitSYNApr 20, 2006
Heritage PharmaFor profitMKTGApr 20, 2006
Invagen PharmsFor profitMKTGMay 31, 2006
Macleods Pharmaceuticals, LtdFor profitMKTGMay 12, 2025
MylanFor profitMKTGDec 22, 2005
MylanFor profitSYNDec 22, 2005
PHARMOBEDIENTFor profitMKTGDec 22, 2005
Rising PharmaceuticalsFor profitMKTGDec 22, 2005
Rising PharmaceuticalsFor profitSYNDec 22, 2005
Roxane LaboratoriesFor profitMKTGDec 22, 2005
Sun PharmaceuticalsFor profitMKTGMar 17, 2006
Sun PharmaceuticalsFor profitSYNDec 22, 2005
SunovionFor profitNDA2Mar 27, 2000
UnichemFor profitMKTGJan 26, 2021
Upsher-Smith LaboratoriesFor profitMKTGDec 22, 2005
Watson PharmaceuticalsFor profitMKTGApr 20, 2006
WockhardtFor profitMKTGDec 22, 2005
Zydus Discovery DMCCFor profitMKTGOct 16, 2006
Zydus Discovery DMCCFor profitSYNOct 16, 2006