Joana Carvalho, PhD, managing science editor —

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. The study, “Dravet Syndrome: An Overview,” was published in Cureus. Dravet syndrome is a severe type of…

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: A Novel Antiseizure Medication for the Management of Dravet Syndrome,” was published in the journal…

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 with Dravet syndrome,” was published in Neurology Genetics. Dravet syndrome, a severe type of epilepsy usually…

The anti-seizure effect of cannabidiol in Dravet syndrome is dependent on the type of neurons upon which it acts, but not on the activity of sodium channels, a study finds. The findings of the study, “Investigating the Therapeutic Mechanism of Cannabidiol in a Human Induced Pluripotent Stem…

Potassium bromide (KBr) can control certain types of epileptic seizures and should be considered as an option for the treatment of children with refractory epilepsy, a study says. The findings of the study, “Potassium Bromide in the Treatment of Pediatric Refractory Epilepsy,” were published in the…

Scientists have found a new genetic mutation in the SCN1A gene associated with Dravet syndrome, a case report says. The genetic variant was described in the study, “A novel variant in SCN1A gene associated with Dravet syndrome,” published in Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy. Dravet syndrome…

Treatment with AZD7325, a compound that stimulates the activity of a specific type of receptors in the brain, has a seizure-protective effect in a mouse model of Dravet syndrome, a study has found. The study, “Potentiating α2 subunit containing perisomatic GABAA receptors protects against seizures…

GW Pharmaceuticals‘ Epidiolex, the first plant-derived cannabidiol (CBD) medication to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), reduces the frequency of epileptic seizures when used as an add-on therapy in children with Dravet syndrome, a Phase 3 clinical trial shows.

Compared with its competitors, Diacomit (stiripentol) remains in the top position as an add-on therapy to control epileptic seizures in young children with Dravet syndrome, or in those who are affected by repeated and prolonged seizures, according to an expert review study. The study, “Stiripentol for the…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) refused the New Drug Application (NDA) for Fintepla (ZX008), Zogenix‘s investigational anti-seizure therapy for patients with Dravet syndrome. According to statements from the FDA, the Refusal to File (RTF) letter was issued because the NDA submitted by Zogenix…