Joana Carvalho, PhD, managing science editor —

A wide variety of gait alterations have been reported for patients with Dravet syndrome, but the most common seems to be the crouch gait, a posture in which patients are unable to maintain an upright posture while walking, a review study has found. The study, “Gait deviations in…

Despite the promising anti-seizure effects of cannabinoids in children with Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, more research is needed to understand how these compounds work and their potential benefits for other neurological disorders, according to a study. The study, “Safety, efficacy, and mechanisms of action of cannabinoids in…

Multimodal analysis that incorporates data obtained from different methodologies seems to be the best approach to build a solid classification system for SCN1A genetic variants associated with Dravet syndrome, a study says. The study, “Multimodal analysis of SCN1A missense variants improves interpretation of clinically relevant variants in…

A deep understanding of the natural history of Dravet syndrome, an early diagnosis, carefully considered treatment, and regular follow-up care are crucial to attain positive clinical outcomes, according to a case report study. The study, “Retracing the natural history of Dravet syndrome: Report and review of literature,” was…

Next-generation sequencing techniques have revealed that genetic mutations in the KCND3 gene may be responsible for more types of epilepsy than previously thought, and new candidate genes associated with Dravet syndrome have been identified, a new study reports. The study, “Gene mutational analysis in a cohort of Chinese children…

Zogenix has announced the submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for Fintepla (ZX008), its investigational compound for the treatment of epileptic seizures associated with…

Lab techniques and bioinformatic tools are essential for helping physicians and scientists distinguish between the benign and disease-causing SCN1A gene variants associated with Dravet syndrome and other disorders, according to a recent review study. The review, “SCN1A variants from bench to bedside — improved clinical prediction from…

Mutations in the SCN1A gene and epileptic seizures contribute to disease severity in a mouse model of Dravet syndrome, a study reports. The study, “A two-hit story: Seizures and genetic mutation interaction sets phenotype severity in SCN1A epilepsies,” was published in Neurobiology of Disease. Dravet syndrome…

GW Pharmaceuticals‘ Epidiolex, the first plant-derived cannabidiol medication to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is effective in significantly reducing the frequency of epileptic seizures as an adjunct therapy in children with Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a review study shows.

Zogenix‘s investigational compound Fintepla (fenfluramine HCl oral solution) improves behavioral and emotional control in children and young adults with Dravet syndrome, according to recent data presented at the 72nd American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting in New Orleans. These findings were based on a post-hoc analysis performed on patients who participated…