A new drug will be released in a few monthsagainst epilepsybe available on the European market. Cenobamate has been approved by the European Commission and is only used in patients who have already been treated unsuccessfully with two other antiepileptic drugs.
New drug against epilepsy: Cenobamate is initially used as an adjunctive therapy
In Germany, around 400,000 patients struggle with epilepsy attacks. The existing medications cannot help them and prove to be ineffective. In this case, cenobamate could help prevent new attacks. The drug is initially only prescribed to adults.
The manufacturer had carried out three studies. A total of 1,900 test subjects were tested over a period of three months. The study results were presented to the public and published in the journal “Lancet Neurology”.
The manufacturer demonstrated the effectiveness of the new drug against epilepsy
The researchers divided the subjects into two groups. The first group consisted of participants treated with cenobamate. All participants in the control group received placebo. After the test period ended, scientists found that seizures were reduced by 50% in around 40% of patients in the first group. These patients took 100 mg of cenobamate daily. In contrast, seizures were reduced by 50% in only 4% of subjects who received placebo.
Participants most commonly reported side effects such as dizziness, fatigue, double vision and headaches.
Due to the promising test results, the drug was approved by the European Commission.
Why is the effectiveness of the drug so high? Even the doctors don't have an answer to this question. However, they assume that it could be due to the combination of two active ingredients. The medicine must be precisely dosed for each patient. That is why it is offered in the form of tablets (12.5 mg, 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg and 200 mg).
The drug has also been approved in the USA for a year and is prescribed for adults.
You can find more details about the medication, its effects and its side effectsin the studyfind.
