Epilepsy

Main lessons from the European Congress on Epilepsy 2018

Main lessons from the European Congress on Epilepsy 2018

Every other year the International League Against Epilepsy organises a major epilepsy medical congress in Europe called the European Congress on Epilepsy (ECE). This year I attended the main three days of the ECE addition in Vienna, looking at the field partly as a drug developer and partly as a patient advocate working on behalf of rare epilepsy patient communities. Here is the list of what I found the most interesting at the ECE 2018 meeting.

Genes vs syndromes at the International Epilepsy Congress in Barcelona

Genes vs syndromes at the International Epilepsy Congress in Barcelona

Should we talk about syndromes based on the gene that causes them or should we talk about them (and treat them) based on the clinical characteristics that they display?  Earlier this month, the epilepsy community gathered in Barcelona for the 32nd International Epilepsy Congress and there was a debate between genetic and symptom-base syndrome classification. This debate goes beyond semantics, and has important regulatory and access implications.

Dravet Syndrome Drug Development Pipeline Review 2017

Dravet Syndrome Drug Development Pipeline Review 2017

June 23 is a special day for families of people with Dravet syndrome. It is the International Dravet Syndrome Awareness Day, that in 2017 celebrates its 4th edition. That's why today we announce the publication of the 2017 Dravet Syndrome Pipeline and Opportunities Review, a market research publication that provides an overview of the global therapeutic landscape of Dravet syndrome.

2016 numbers: CNS orphan drugs growing

2016 numbers: CNS orphan drugs growing

With 2016 numbers now available, the number of orphan drugs in development for neurological indications is looking quite positive. I have reviewed the numbers of orphan drug designations and approvals by FDA in 2016 to see how popular are neurological orphan drugs today and what the trend is for the near future.

What marihuana teaches us about drug discovery

What marihuana teaches us about drug discovery

There was one clear star at the American Epilepsy Society Annual meeting this year, Epidiolex (cannabidiol). Yet four years ago no one would have thought that the cannabis-derived drug would take over the field of epilepsy in such a big way.

Impatient patients

Impatient patients

One day I sent an e-mail that changed my life. During my training as a scientist, I had learned how to study what goes wrong with the brain and to research how we could fix it. Then one day I sent an e-mail to a patient.