Sepracor seeks Canadian OK for epilepsy drug

By Chris Reidy, Globe Staff

Sepracor Inc., a Marlborough drug company perhaps best known for its Lunesta sleep aid, said that it is asking Canadian regulators to approve one of its drugs for distribution in that country.

In a press release, Sepracor said that its Canadian subsidiary, Sepracor Pharmaceuticals Inc., has submitted an application to the Therapeutic Products Directorate of Health Canada for eslicarbazepine acetate as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial-onset seizures in adults with epilepsy; the proposed trade name for eslicarbazepine acetate is STEDESA.

Before its acquisition by Sepracor, the Canadian subsidiary was known as Oryx Pharmaceuticals Inc., Sepracor said.