Abstract
Since the first antiseizure medication (ASM) was introduced in 1857, more than 30
medications have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
for the treatment of epilepsy. However, limitations in efficacy and tolerability have
led to one-third of patients suffering from uncontrolled seizures. Recent advances
in genetics, disease modeling, high-throughput target-based and phenotype-based screening,
study design, and identification of novel mechanisms of action or routes of delivery
have resulted in more than 200 therapeutics currently under development in the epilepsy
pipeline. This study discusses near-to-market drugs in advanced clinical development,
with select drugs in earlier stages. Background regarding mechanisms, animal studies,
pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, efficacy, tolerability, and safety data are provided
for each drug when available.
Keywords
epilepsy - antiseizure medications - clinical trials - pipeline
