Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

A novel gene therapy that works to increase the levels of an enzyme called p38-gamma extended survival and reduced seizure activity in a mouse model of Dravet syndrome, a new study reports. “We have tested this therapy extensively, and rigorous assessment by independent labs has confirmed our results,” said…

The Dravet Syndrome Foundation (DSF) has announced the award of $690,000 in total research funding for five projects that aim to improve care for people with Dravet syndrome. The one- to two-year research grants will provide each project funding in amounts ranging from $75,000 to $165,000. Two of…

Not only do young people with Dravet syndrome show cognitive, developmental and behavioral differences compared with their normally developing peers, but these differences tend to become more pronounced in adolescence, according to a new study. “Our data indicate that the gap in adaptive function and overall intellectual development between…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has expanded its approval of the anticonvulsant Diacomit (stiripentol) — when used as an adjunctive, or add-on therapy to Onfi (clobazam) — to help manage seizures in children with Dravet syndrome as young as 6 months of age. The infants must weigh…

There are close statistical associations between seizure frequency and the severity of other disease symptoms, such as language problems, in people with Dravet syndrome, a new study reports. “The significant relationships found between seizure measures and composite scores suggest that extended periods of seizure remission (whether expressed in terms of…

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has approved oral Fintepla (fenfluramine) as an add-on treatment for seizures associated with Dravet syndrome in adults and children 2 and older. The therapy is specifically indicated for patients whose seizures are not adequately controlled by other anti-seizure medications. The approval…

Treatment with soticlestat significantly reduced seizure frequency for children with Dravet syndrome or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), another childhood disorder that causes seizures, in a Phase 2 clinical trial called ELEKTRA. Trial results were in the study, “A phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the…

Adults with Dravet syndrome commonly experience walking difficulties that tend to worsen with age, a small study reports. “In this study, it was observed that gait parameters and parkinsonian symptoms were abnormal across all ages, but clearly worse in older patients, suggesting a progressive gait disorder,” researchers wrote. By…

The European Commission is expected to propose a new governing framework for health data next month, called the European Health Data Space (EHDS), with the aim of connecting national health systems to facilitate secure and efficient transfer of data across systems in different European nations. The move is expected to…

Eight adults with lifelong histories of epilepsy and developmental delays without any known cause were diagnosed with Dravet syndrome after undergoing genetic testing, a new study reports. The finding suggests “that a number of adult patients are currently undiagnosed and have unmet health needs,” according to researchers. “In our…