Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40770908›Full record

ReviewEpilepsia2025

Drug discovery and preclinical testing of drug candidates for developmental and epileptic encephalopathies.

Heidrun Potschka, Daniel Pérez-Pérez

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Epilepsia, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Heidrun PotschkaInstitute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) of Munich, Munich, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1506-0252
Daniel Pérez-PérezInstitute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) of Munich, Munich, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9712-2543

Funding

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft PO 681/12-1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Drug development for developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) follows different strategies on one hand including disease-targeting precision medicine approaches considering the genetic variants and pathomechanisms in DEEs and on the other hand including therapeutic approaches with novel targets or second-generation drug candidates that may be of interest beyond selected DEEs. Although the first group of approaches can only be tested in dedicated DEE models, assessment in induced non-specific seizure and epilepsy models may provide valuable information if the mechanism of action implies a broader spectrum of efficacy. Data from such models can inform about general anti-seizure efficacy, efficacy against different seizure types including a possible broad-spectrum potential, dose range, and "therapeutic" plasma/brain concentrations. However, only dedicated DEE models will guide selection of the best candidates with a favorable efficacy and tolerability spectrum for specific DEEs. Several DEE models have already been used for preclinical testing of therapeutic approaches. Testing in these specific models can provide information about the effects on seizure generation; spread of seizure activity; epilepsy development; survival; behavioral, cognitive, and motor function; and about tolerability. On the other hand, we still face several limitations and challenges including lack of models for many DEEs, incomplete penetrance of the phenotype, high mortality, low throughput, limited knowledge concerning pharmacology and predictive validity, and species differences in development and disease course. In this review, we provide an overview of the preclinical efficacy data of approved orphan drugs in both model types and discuss the current state-of-knowledge concerning predictive validity. In conclusion, testing strategies need to be carefully tailored to the candidate drug or therapeutic approach. In this context, there is an urgent need for development of further specific DEE models and for a comprehensive characterization of the face and predictive validity of existing and future DEE models.

Indexed as

AnticonvulsantsDrug DiscoveryEpilepsyAnimalsDisease Models, AnimalDrug Evaluation, PreclinicalHumansAnticonvulsantsantiseizure medicationcannabidiolfenfluramineorphan drugpreclinical drug development

Identifiers

PMID40770908
PMCPMC12779334

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.