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Published on: September 15, 2017
Clinical studies and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of treatments
Jacqueline A French1, Matthias Koepp2, Yvonne Naegelin3
1Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, NYU Langone School of Medicine, New York City, New York, U.S.A.
Abstract:
In this exciting era, we are coming closer and closer to bringing an anti-inflammatory therapy to the clinic for the purpose of seizure prevention, modification, and/or suppression. At present, it is unclear what this approach might entail, and what form it will take. Irrespective of the therapy that ultimately reaches the clinic, there will be some commonalities with regard to clinical trials. A number of animal models have now been used to identify inflammation as a major underlying mechanism of both chronic seizures and the epileptogenic process. These models have demonstrated that specific anti-inflammatory treatments can be effective at both suppressing chronic seizures and interfering with the process of epileptogenesis. Some of these have already been evaluated in early phase clinical trials. It can be expected that there will soon be more clinical trials of both "conventional, broad spectrum" anti-inflammatory agents and novel new approaches to utilizing specific anti-inflammatory therapies with drugs or other therapeutic interventions. A summary of some of those approaches appears below, as well as a discussion of the issues facing clinical trials in this new domain.
Insights
Researchers are developing anti-inflammatory therapies for seizure prevention and suppression. Animal models show inflammation drives seizures, and anti-inflammatory drugs show promise in early clinical trials for epilepsy treatment.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Inflammation is increasingly recognized as a key mechanism in chronic seizures and epileptogenesis.
- Animal models have been instrumental in elucidating the role of inflammation in epilepsy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the development of anti-inflammatory therapies for seizure prevention, modification, and suppression.
- To summarize current and emerging anti-inflammatory approaches for epilepsy treatment.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing animal models to identify inflammation as a therapeutic target.
- Evaluating anti-inflammatory treatments for their efficacy in suppressing seizures and epileptogenesis.
- Reviewing early-phase clinical trials of anti-inflammatory agents for epilepsy.
Main Results:
- Animal studies demonstrate that anti-inflammatory treatments can suppress chronic seizures and interfere with epileptogenesis.
- Several anti-inflammatory approaches have shown efficacy in preclinical models and are progressing to clinical trials.
Conclusions:
- Anti-inflammatory therapies hold significant potential for clinical application in seizure management.
- Future clinical trials will likely involve both broad-spectrum and targeted anti-inflammatory strategies for epilepsy.
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