Potential of cenobamate as a broad-spectrum antiseizure medication

The process of diagnosing patients with epilepsy and selecting the optimal drug remains a significant challenge. Broad-spectrum antiseizure medications (ASMs) treat focal and generalized seizures without worsening other seizure types, making them the drug of choice when the exact seizure classification for patients is unknown. Cenobamate, an ASM approved for the treatment of adult focal seizures, has demonstrated strong efficacy, including high rates of seizure freedom. Evidence suggests that cenobamate has potential to be a broad-spectrum ASM.

Considerations for the selection of broad- versus narrow-spectrum ASMs are discussed and an overview of preclinical, clinical, and real-world evidence relating to cenobamate as a potential broad-spectrum ASM is presented.

Combined evidence from preclinical data, clinical study data, and real-world evidence may indicate that cenobamate may be a broad-spectrum ASM. Evidence is accumulating regarding the utility of cenobamate in treating primary generalized tonic-clonic (PGTC) and seizures associated with developmental epileptic encephalopathies such as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. Results from the ongoing cenobamate trial in patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy will determine the efficacy of cenobamate for the treatment of PGTC seizures.