Posts by: Ana Pena, PhD

Ana Pena, PhD

Ana is a molecular biologist with a passion for discovery and communication. As a science writer, she looks for connecting the public, in particular patients and healthcare providers, with clear and quality information about the latest medical advances. Ana holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Lisbon, Portugal, where she specialized in infectious diseases, epigenetics, and gene expression.

March 3, 2020March 3, 2020

Molecule Seen to Lessen Epileptic Activity, Improve Learning in Early Study

News

A new small molecule was seen to stimulate certain brain receptors, called NMDA receptors, and lessen abnormal brain epileptic activity in mouse models of Dravet syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease. ... Read more

February 18, 2020February 24, 2020

Fintepla Daily Significantly Lowers Seizures in Young Dravet Patients, Trial Data Show

News

Daily treatment with Fintepla (a low-dose oral solution of fenfluramine), an investigational therapy by Zogenix, significantly reduces seizure frequency in children and teenagers with Dravet syndrome while demonstrating safety, according to ... Read more

November 19, 2019November 19, 2019

NICE Favors Adding Epidyolex, Cannabidiol Oral Solution, to NHS for Dravet Patients in England

News

The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE), an arm of U.K.’s public health system, favors use of the oral cannabidiol solution Epidyolex as an add-on to clobazam ... Read more

October 22, 2019October 22, 2019

Soticlestat Can Reduce Seizure Frequency in Adults With Dravet, Other Rare Epilepsies, Initial Data Shows

News

Ovid Therapeutics‘ investigational treatment soticlestat (OV935/5/TAK935) was found to progressively reduce seizure frequency — by up to 90% — in adults with rare and hard-to-treat epilepsies, including Dravet syndrome, ... Read more

April 30, 2019April 30, 2019

Ketogenic Diet May Reduce Sudden Unexpected Deaths in Epilepsy, Mouse Study Suggests

News

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) occurs more frequently during early evening and is significantly prevented by prolonged use of the ketogenic diet, research in a mouse model of Dravet syndrome (DS) suggests. ... Read more

July 3, 2018July 3, 2018

ZX008 Is Well-tolerated and Unaffected by Food Intake, Study of Healthy Participants Shows

News

ZX008, an experimental therapy for Dravet syndrome, was found to be well-tolerated and can be administered regardless of food intake, according to clinical results of a study in healthy volunteers. The ... Read more

June 12, 2018June 12, 2018

Researchers Review Cannabis-Based Therapies for Epilepsy, Dravet Syndrome

News

Cannabis-based experimental therapies currently under research, in particular Epidiolex, show significant promise to treat therapy-resistant epilepsy, including Dravet syndrome, according to a recent review. The report “Investigational cannabinoids in seizure ... Read more

June 7, 2018June 8, 2018

Zogenix’s ZX008 May Work Without Harsh Side Effects of Some Antiepileptics, Study Reports

News

ZX008’s mechanism of action may avoid the side effects caused by other antiepileptic treatments, preclinical research suggests. The potential treatment is also being studied in a series of pivotal clinical trials. ... Read more

June 5, 2018June 5, 2018

Dravet Patient Able to Stop Seizures Using Select Antiepileptic Combination, Case Study Says

News

Treatment with topiramate (Topomax), lacosamide (Vimpat) and carbamazepine enabled a young woman with Dravet syndrome to potentially stop having seizures and eased her behavioral problems, according to a case report. The ... Read more

May 22, 2018May 22, 2018

Researchers Work to Better Predict Worse Cognitive Outcomes in Dravet

News

Researchers have identified two significant factors that can help predict cognitive outcomes in Dravet syndrome patients: Longer treatment with antiepileptics that block sodium channels, and being younger when the first afebrile ... Read more