Epilepsy
Proveca are currently focused on the development of paediatric medications for the treatment of epilepsy in children to improve seizure control and the child’s quality of life.
What is the prevalence of epilepsy in children?
Characterised by a chronic predisposition to seizures, epilepsy is the most frequent chronic neurological condition in childhood, affecting 0.5% to 1% of children.1
What are the symptoms of epilepsy?
Epilepsy can vary from a brief lapse of attention or muscle jerks to severe and prolonged convulsions and can be associated with increased mortality, seizure-related injury, adverse psychological effects and impaired quality of life.2
Effects of epilepsy & treating epilepsy in children
The aim of epilepsy treatment is to minimise or control seizures; however, up to 30% of children do not become seizure free.3 Epilepsy treatment should be individualised, taking into consideration not only seizure type or epilepsy syndrome but also co-medication, co-morbidities, possible side effects, lifestyle factors and the preferences of the child and family.
Although there are many licensed options for the treatment of epilepsy in adults, few have been systematically evaluated in children and off-label anti-epileptic drug use is common.4
Proveca are developing new paediatric appropriate formulations of anti-epileptic drugs to try to improve seizure control and quality of life.
References:
- Aaberg KM, et al. Pediatrics. 2017;139(5). doi: 10.1542/peds.2016-3908.
- Chong L, et al. Pediatrics. 2016;138(3). doi: 10.1542/peds.2016-0658.
- Aaberg KM, et al. Pediatrics. 2018;141(6). doi: 10.1542/peds.2017-4016.
- Dang LT & Silverstein FS. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2017;64:1291-1308.
PCOM-TA-EP-V2
Reviewed November 2021