Marisa Wexler, MS,  senior science writer—

June is Dravet Syndrome Awareness Month in the U.S., and the Dravet Syndrome Foundation is spearheading efforts to raise funds and spread the word about this rare type of epilepsy. “By raising awareness of Dravet syndrome, our community can increase knowledge in the general public, improve early diagnosis,…

Praxis Precision Medicines is gearing up to launch a clinical trial of its experimental anti-seizure therapy relutrigine in people with Dravet syndrome and other disorders that cause seizures in childhood, collectively known as developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs). According to a corporate presentation, the study, dubbed EMERALD,…

Stoke Therapeutics and Biogen are teaming up for the further development and potential commercialization of zorevunersen, an experimental treatment for Dravet syndrome that’s moving into late-stage clinical testing. “With Biogen’s deep experience in neurology and track record of success in commercializing high-value disease-modifying medicines for…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted rare pediatric disease designation to relutrigine, a treatment candidate for Dravet syndrome that’s being developed by Praxis Precision Medicines. The therapy aims to reduce seizures in children with epileptic disorders such as Dravet. “We are thrilled to have been…

Targeting a heart protein called NaV1.6 may help prevent sudden death in adults with Dravet syndrome, a study in mice suggests. The study, “Cardiac-Specific Deletion of Scn8a Mitigates Dravet Syndrome-Associated Sudden Death in Adults,” was published in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology. Dravet syndrome is caused by…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has lifted its partial clinical hold on higher doses of zorevunersen, an experimental treatment for Dravet syndrome currently being tested in Phase 1/2 trials. The FDA placed the hold based on preclinical data in 2020, limiting dosing of zorevunersen in studies taking…

Parents of children with Dravet syndrome in Spain say they don’t get enough support to help meet the emotional and economic challenges of the disease, a study found. “The findings of this study underscore the need for policy reforms that specifically address the challenges faced not only by individuals…

Although high-quality data are lacking, available evidence suggests that a procedure called vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) — which targets a large nerve connecting the brain and the gut — can help to reduce seizure frequency in some people with Dravet syndrome. That’s according to a new study titled…

Having a child with Dravet syndrome affects the whole family, and it’s common for parents to feel burnt out and sleep-deprived and for siblings to feel unseen, a study reported. Clinicians should be proactive about offering information about support networks for families affected by Dravet syndrome, the study’s authors…

Diacomit (stiripentol) may be more effective than other available Dravet syndrome treatments at reducing the frequency of seizures, according to an analysis of data from multiple clinical trials. The therapy “can be recommended as the first choice among the included drug regimens for reducing seizures in [Dravet] patients,”…