News

Long-term use of the approved Dravet syndrome therapy Fintepla (fenfluramine) safely and consistently reduces seizure frequency in children and young adults with the genetic condition, according to the final analysis of an open-label extension of a Phase 3 clinical trial. Dubbed ZX008-1503 (NCT02823145), the international long-term study tracked…

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…

Stoke Therapeutics plans to launch a Phase 3 study this year to evaluate zorevunersen, a potential disease-modifying therapy for Dravet syndrome. The trial, dubbed EMPEROR, which was announced after an agreement was reached with regulators in the U.S., European Union, and Japan, will test if a year of…

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…

Health-related quality of life is low for parents of children with Dravet syndrome relative to the general public in Sweden, with higher levels of anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges, along with poorer sleep, a study found. Higher levels of anxiety were reported among these women than among…

In a mouse model study of Dravet syndrome, males were seen to be more vulnerable to abnormal heartbeats and heart deficits in energy-producing mitochondria than female mice. These findings suggest that male Dravet patients may be particularly vulnerable to sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), a fatal seizure…

Children with genetic causes of epilepsy, including Dravet syndrome, were more than five times more likely to have fewer seizures after following a ketogenic diet, known as keto, for one year, according to a new study. Across all types of hard-to-treat epilepsy, nearly three-quarters of patients responded to…

Lundbeck agreed to acquire the company developing bexicaserin, an investigational treatment for seizures associated with Dravet syndrome and other developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs). Lundbeck will buy Longboard Pharmaceuticals for $60 a share in cash, or a total of about $2.6 billion, the companies announced. “Bexicaserin…

Add-on treatment with Diacomit (stiripentol) was associated with reductions in the number of episodes of status epilepticus (SE), periods of prolonged seizure activity, in people with Dravet syndrome and other types of epilepsy, a review study found. Evidence also suggested that Diacomit may be able to stop…

Two-thirds of 24 children and young adults with Dravet syndrome experienced clinically meaningful declines in seizure frequency after adding Fintepla (fenfluramine) to their treatment regimen, according to a real-world Danish analysis. Fintepla’s use also was associated with reductions in healthcare utilization and the use of other anti-seizure medications.