Six years after legalizing medical marijuana, families in the UK are demanding change as the NHS continues to fall short in providing access to life-saving cannabis-based medications. Parents of children suffering from treatment-resistant epilepsy are particularly vocal, citing the effectiveness of medical marijuana compared to conventional treatments. Despite legal access, only a handful of patients have received NHS prescriptions, leaving many families struggling to afford private options.
Truist Securities initiated coverage on Longboard Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (LBPH) with a Buy rating and a $60 price target, citing its CNS-focused biotech platform and the potential of its lead drug bexicaserin to disrupt the epilepsy market. The analyst believes bexicaserin’s superior safety profile and comparable efficacy to current market leader Fintepla could lead to market share gains and market expansion.
Praxis Precision Medicines announced positive topline results from its EMBOLD Phase 2 study evaluating relutrigine in patients with SCN2A and SCN8A developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE). The study showed a significant reduction in seizures, improvements in behavior and communication, and a favorable safety profile.
Mothers of children with epilepsy in Brazil have been instrumental in advocating for the legalization and free access to cannabidiol (CBD)-based medicines. Their decade-long fight has resulted in groundbreaking changes in São Paulo, where CBD-based medicines are now available free of charge in public and private health facilities. This victory is a testament to their unwavering commitment to their children’s health and the potential of CBD as a life-saving treatment.
Jazz Pharmaceuticals’ Epidiolex, a cannabidiol oral solution for treating rare forms of epilepsy, showed mixed results in a Phase 3 trial in Japan. While the trial did not achieve its primary goal of reducing seizure frequency, there were improvements in other areas, and no new safety concerns were identified. The company plans to continue collecting data and engage with Japanese regulatory authorities regarding a potential new drug application.
A groundbreaking brain device implant has significantly reduced seizures in a UK teenager with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy. The device, placed directly in the skull, delivers electrical stimulation to disrupt the abnormal brain activity that triggers seizures. This success marks a potential turning point in the treatment of severe epilepsy, offering hope for countless individuals battling this debilitating condition.
After initially being dismissed as panic attacks, a woman named Madeleine Dippnall finally receives an epilepsy diagnosis, bringing relief and improvement in her mental health. Despite the challenges of managing epilepsy, Madeleine remains optimistic and has found success in building a graphic design business from her off-grid cabin.
Madeleine Dippnall initially suffered panic attacks, resulting in a diagnosis of depression and PTSD, despite her belief that something more was amiss. However, after experiencing a seizure, she was diagnosed with epilepsy. Now on appropriate medication, her depression has subsided. Dippnall’s experience highlights the importance of accurate diagnosis and the potential consequences of misdiagnosis.
Tracy Dixon-Salazar’s daughter, Savannah, was diagnosed with epilepsy as a child, but her seizures became severe and frequent. Faced with limited answers from doctors, Dixon-Salazar returned to school and earned a Ph.D. in neurobiology. Through her research, she discovered that a calcium channel mutation was causing Savannah’s seizures and found a treatment that reduced them by 95%. Dixon-Salazar now advocates for families affected by Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, highlighting the challenges of caregiving and the importance of support.
Epilepsy, a condition characterized by unexpected seizures, affects nearly 1% of the population. A recent study from Tohoku University reveals that astrocyte activity begins approximately 20 seconds before the onset of epileptic neuronal hyperactivity, suggesting that astrocytes may play a key role in triggering seizures. Astrocytes are non-neuronal cells that control the ionic and metabotropic environment in the brain, and their role in brain function has often been overlooked due to their lack of easily monitored electrical activity. However, fluorescence sensor proteins are now providing insights into astrocyte activity, leading researchers to believe that they could be a potential therapeutic target for epilepsy treatment.
