Posts by: Joana Carvalho, PhD

Joana Carvalho, PhD

Joana holds a BSc in Biology, a MSc in Evolutionary and Developmental Biology and a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal. Her work has been focused on the impact of non-canonical Wnt signaling in the collective behavior of endothelial cells — cells that made up the lining of blood vessels — found in the umbilical cord of newborns.

September 15, 2020September 15, 2020

Fintepla Unlikely to Cause Heart Valve Problems, PAH in Young Patients, Extension Study Finds

News

Children with Dravet syndrome receiving Fintepla (fenfluramine) to control their seizures are unlikely to develop cardiac valvulopathy — a disease in which at least one of the four heart ... Read more

May 12, 2020May 12, 2020

Body Cooling May Shorten Refractory Seizures in Dravet and Other Epilepsies

News

Used in addition to standard treatments, therapeutic hypothermia — based on lowering the body’s temperature — can shorten the duration of long-lasting seizures in drug-resistant forms of epilepsy, including ... Read more

May 5, 2020May 5, 2020

Epidiolex Lowered Premature Mortality in Dravet Mice, Studies Find

News

Epidiolex, the first plant-derived cannabidiol (CBD) medication to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), can reduce premature mortality and alleviate several behavioral deficits in mouse models ... Read more

April 14, 2020April 14, 2020

Fintepla’s Potential Dual Mechanism of Action May Explain Effectiveness at Reducing Seizures in Dravet Syndrome

News

In addition to promoting the release of serotonin, a brain chemical typically associated with feelings of well-being and happiness, Fintepla (fenfluramine) also seems to control the activity of sigma-1 receptors ... Read more

March 10, 2020March 10, 2020

Antisense Oligonucleotide Treatment Delays Seizures in Dravet Animal Study

News

An antisense oligonucleotide therapy that lowers the amount of Scn8a transcripts — RNA molecules used as a template for the production of proteins — delayed seizure onset and prolonged the lifespan ... Read more

February 25, 2020February 25, 2020

Fintepla Reduces Seizure Frequency in Dravet Children Who Respond Poorly to Diacomit Combo Regimens, Phase 3 Trial Shows

News

Fintepla (fenfluramine) reduced the frequency of convulsive seizures in children and adolescents with Dravet syndrome who responded poorly to treatment regimens that included Diacomit (stiripentol), Phase 3 trial results ... Read more

January 14, 2020January 14, 2020

Stoke’s STK-001 Prolongs Survival, Reduces Seizures in Dravet Mouse Model, Preclinical Study Shows

News

STK-001, Stoke Therapeutics’s investigational therapy for Dravet syndrome, prolongs survival and reduces the frequency of seizures in a mouse model of the disease, according to preclinical results. Findings from ... Read more

November 6, 2019November 6, 2019

Treating Dravet Means Being Open to Variety of Care and Therapies, Review Study Says

News

Managing Dravet syndrome requires a multidisciplinary approach open to both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, because of the severe nature of this disease and its poor prognosis, a review study reports. ... Read more

September 10, 2019September 10, 2019

Diacomit is Effective as Add-on Therapy to Reduce Refractory Seizures in Dravet, Review Study Finds

News

Diacomit (stiripentol) is an effective add-on oral therapy to reduce the frequency and duration of seizures in patients with Dravet syndrome, a review study has found. The study, “Stiripentol: ... Read more

July 16, 2019July 16, 2019

First Known Case of Double Somatic Mosaicism Reported in Girl with Dravet Syndrome

News

A genetic phenomenon called double somatic mosaicism was found for a first time in a girl with Dravet syndrome, a case study reports. The study, “Double somatic mosaicism in a child ... Read more