Anti Epileptic Drug News and Research

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Oral levetiracetam may be effective in stopping neonatal seizures

Seizures that occur in the first few weeks of life are a major predictor of future adverse neurological outcomes. Currently approved antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are effective in stopping seizures in less than 50% of these neonatal cases. The approved therapies can also have undesirable side effects.

6 Dec 2010

GSK and Valeant receive FDA Complete Response letter for ezogabine

GlaxoSmithKline and Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. announced receipt of a Complete Response letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the New Drug Application (NDA) for ezogabine, an investigational anti-epileptic drug being studied for the adjunctive treatment of adults with partial-onset seizures.

2 Dec 2010

Data on UCB’s anti-epileptic drugs to be presented at AES annual meeting

New data on UCB's anti-epileptic drug (AED) Vimpat (lacosamide) C-V will be presented at the 64th annual meeting of the American Epilepsy Society (AES), taking place at the San Antonio Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas from December 3 to 7, 2010. Data will also be presented on Keppra XR and the investigative epilepsy therapy, brivaracetam.

1 Dec 2010

Doctors treating female epilepsy patients have to consider specific hormonal situation

Doctors treating female epilepsy patients have to take account of the specific hormonal situation in women. Such an approach can often reduce the limitations imposed by the disease. This is the conclusion reached by Sabine Weil of Munich University and her co-authors in the latest issue of Deutsches Ärzteblatt International

25 Nov 2010

Exposure to several AEDs in the womb negatively affect child's neurodevelopment

A large population-based study revealed that multiple antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) used by pregnant women to control seizures may cause poor school performance in their teenagers. The research team from Karolinska University Hospital and the University of Lund in Sweden confirmed that exposure to AEDs in utero may have a negative effect on neurodevelopment.

4 Nov 2010

Stereotactic radiation effective for trigeminal neuralgia

Stereotactic radiation is an effective, long-term treatment for trigeminal neuralgia: a painful condition that occurs with increased frequency in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Radiation is noninvasive and has less negative side effects than other treatments, according to the longest follow-up in a study of its kind presented October 31, 2010, at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

26 Oct 2010

New epilepsy drugs give more options, but make treatment decisions more complex: Epilepsy specialist

A dozen new epilepsy drugs are giving doctors and patients more options, but making treatment decisions more complex, a Loyola epilepsy specialist reports in the journal Neurologic Clinics.

22 Oct 2010

FDA approves Cephalon's REMS for GABITRIL

Cephalon, Inc. today announced that a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) for its antiepileptic medication GABITRIL(R) (tiagabine hydrochloride) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The GABITRIL REMS consists of a Medication Guide to inform patients about the potential risks associated with the use of GABITRIL.

15 Oct 2010

Advances in treatment and management of neurological disorders

The latest advances in treating neurologic disorders such as stroke, headache, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and sleep disorders are detailed in a special issue of the journal Neurologic Clinics.

4 Oct 2010

Study demonstrates rufinamide therapy is effective in reducing partial seizure frequency

Researchers from the Arkansas Epilepsy Program found treatment with rufinamide results in a significant reduction in seizure frequency compared with placebo, for patients with uncontrolled partial-onset seizures (POS).

1 Oct 2010

Neurologic Clinics journal publishes latest advances in neurologic disorders

The latest advances in treating neurologic disorders such as stroke, headache, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and sleep disorders are detailed in a special issue of the journal Neurologic Clinics.

1 Oct 2010

H1N1 influenza increases neurological complications in children: Study

A recent study by researchers at the University of Utah determined that the 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) caused a higher rate of neurological complications in children than the seasonal flu. The most common complications observed were seizures and encephalopathy.

20 Sep 2010

Study examines effects of AEDs on nicotine metabolite levels in smokers

UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School researchers have determined that carbamazepine and oxycarbamazepine, medications commonly used to treat neurologic and psychiatric conditions, increase nicotine metabolism in smokers. As nicotine metabolism increases, cravings for nicotine return more quickly which could lead to more frequent cigarette consumption among individuals who also take these medications.

18 Sep 2010

European Menopause and Andropause Society's position statements on post-reproductive health of women

Elsevier announced today the publication of four important position statements from the European Menopause and Andropause Society (EMAS) in the journal Maturitas on common management problems in the post-reproductive health of women. The statements cover the management of the menopause in the context of obesity, epilepsy, endometriosis and premature ovarian failure. Each statement has summary recommendations as a quick aid for the busy clinician.

3 Sep 2010

FDA extends Prescription Drug User Fee Act date for ezogabine

GlaxoSmithKline and Valeant Pharmaceuticals International announced today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date for ezogabine to 30 November 2010.

31 Aug 2010

Increasing levels of neuropeptide Y, receptors can counteract seizures: Research

Research in recent years has shown that the brain tries to counteract seizures. One of the ways it does this is by increasing levels of a protein-like molecule called neuropeptide Y and the expression of certain receptors for it.

25 Aug 2010

Epilepsy Therapy Project, EF announce recipients of New Therapy Grants Program

The Epilepsy Therapy Project (ETP) and the Epilepsy Foundation (EF) today announced the latest grant recipients of its New Therapy Grants Program, a unique joint venture of the non-profit epilepsy organizations, to advance promising epilepsy research in clinical development. The grant awards, totaling approximately $200,000 in funding, will support an experimental gene therapy that directly targets epileptogenic brain tissue, as well as an electrode system that has the potential to improve the efficacy of surgical therapies for certain epilepsy syndromes.

24 Aug 2010

FDA advisory committee votes in favor of Ezogabine

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committee voted unanimously that clinical studies had provided substantial evidence of the effectiveness of Ezogabine (known as Retigabine outside of the U.S.) as adjunctive treatment for adults with partial-onset seizures.

12 Aug 2010

FDA advisory committee votes in favor of investigational anti-epileptic drug ezogabine

GlaxoSmithKline and Valeant Pharmaceuticals International announced today that a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committee voted unanimously that clinical studies had provided substantial evidence of the effectiveness of ezogabine as adjunctive treatment for adults with partial-onset seizures.

12 Aug 2010

Major turning point in antiepileptic drug testing, development

New York University researchers revealed that data from previously completed withdrawal to monotherapy studies for antiepileptic drugs provide a valid control for future studies, obviating the need for placebo/pseudo-placebo trials to demonstrate the efficacy of these drugs as monotherapy. Results of this study are now available online in Epilepsia, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the International League Against Epilepsy.

21 Jul 2010