Epilepsy research
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Evaluation of carisbamate, a novel antiepileptic drug, in photosensitive patients: an exploratory, placebo-controlled study.
Carisbamate, a novel neuromodulatory agent with antiepileptic properties, was evaluated in patients with photoparoxysmal responses to intermittent photic stimulation (IPS) in this multicenter, non-randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled, proof-of-concept study. ⋯ This study shows that carisbamate exhibits dose-related antiepileptic effects in the photosensitivity model. Randomized, controlled studies of carisbamate in epilepsy patients inadequately controlled by their existing AED therapy are warranted.
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This paper comprises a series of experiments in rodent models of partial and generalized epilepsy which were designed to describe the anti-convulsant profile of the functionalized amino acid lacosamide. Lacosamide was effective against sound-induced seizures in the genetically susceptible Frings mouse, against maximal electroshock test (MES)-induced seizures in rats and mice, in the rat hippocampal kindling model of partial seizures, and in the 6Hz model of psychomotor seizures in mice. The activity in the MES test in both mice (4.5mg/kg i.p.) and rats (3.9 mg/kg p.o.) fell within the ranges previously reported for most clinically available anti-epileptic drugs. ⋯ Lacosamide was inactive against clonic seizures induced by subcutaneous administration of the chemoconvulsants pentylenetetrazol, bicuculline, and picrotoxin, but it did inhibit NMDA-induced seizures in mice and showed full efficacy in the homocysteine model of epilepsy. In summary, the overall anti-convulsant profile of lacosamide appeared to be unique, and the drug displayed a good margin of safety in those tests in which it was effective. These results suggest that lacosamide may have the potential to be clinically useful for at least the treatment of generalized tonic-clonic and partial-onset epilepsies, and support ongoing clinical trials in these indications.