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Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid GABA into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice
Published on: May 16, 2019
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Recent advances in pharmacotherapy for epilepsy
Amanda W Pong1, Kevin J Xu, Pavel Klein
1Mid-Atlantic Epilepsy and Sleep Center, Mid-Atlantic Neurological Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Current Opinion in Neurology
|February 10, 2023
Summary
New epilepsy treatments are emerging, including disease-modifying therapies for specific syndromes and novel drugs like cenobamate. These advancements offer hope for patients with difficult-to-treat epilepsy and drug resistance.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pharmacology
- Epileptology
Background:
- Epilepsy impacts 70 million globally, with drug resistance affecting up to a third of patients.
- Current treatment focuses on novel mechanisms and syndrome-specific therapies due to unmet needs.
Approach:
- Review of recent advancements in epilepsy drug development.
- Focus on therapies for tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), Lennox Gastaut syndrome (LGS), and Dravet syndrome (DS).
Key Points:
- Vigabatrin shows positive outcomes for TSC when initiated early.
- Fenfluramine demonstrates efficacy and safety in DS and LGS.
- Cenobamate, a novel sodium channel blocker, shows high efficacy for adult partial-onset epilepsy.
Conclusions:
- The epilepsy treatment landscape is rapidly evolving with new disease-modifying and highly effective agents.
- Emerging therapies like vigabatrin, fenfluramine, and cenobamate offer improved options for challenging epilepsy cases.
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