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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
A new study suggests cenobamate could be a meaningful option for children with developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs). In a retrospective study of 152 children across 17 Spanish hospitals, the drug delivered strong seizure control, high treatment retention, and manageable side effects over 12 months — with results comparable across Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and other DEE subtypes.
A retrospective study across 17 Spanish hospitals evaluated cenobamate — currently approved for adults with focal epilepsy — used off-label in 152 children with developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs). Over 12 months, the drug demonstrated sustained seizure control, high treatment retention, and an acceptable safety profile, offering hope for a patient population with very limited therapeutic options.
Efficacy was notably consistent across DEE subtypes, with responder rates of 79% in both Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and other DEE cases at 12 months. Children with structural causes of epilepsy fared especially well. However, seizure worsening was more common in Dravet syndrome patients, and the use of concomitant sodium channel blockers significantly raised the risk of adverse events — particularly somnolence.
Why it matters: DEEs are among the most severe and treatment-resistant epilepsies in children. These findings support cenobamate's potential role across the DEE spectrum, though prospective controlled trials are needed to confirm its place in pediatric epilepsy care.
