Real-world data confirms stiripentol's seizure-reducing impact in Dravet syndrome. A 10-center U.S. retrospective study of 98 patients found the drug significantly cut convulsive seizure frequency, reduced status epilepticus episodes nearly in half, and lowered ER visits and hospitalizations. Over half of patients also reported improved quality of life — strong evidence that the drug's clinical trial success translates to everyday practice.
Real-world data confirms stiripentol's seizure-reducing impact in Dravet syndrome. A retrospective study across 10 U.S. epilepsy centers — the STIRUS study — analyzed 98 patients with Dravet syndrome (DS) who added stiripentol (Diacomit) to their existing treatment regimens. Presented at the 2026 Child Neurology Society Annual Meeting, the findings show the drug meaningfully reduced seizure burden and healthcare utilization in everyday clinical settings, not just controlled trials.
The results were notable across the board. Bilateral convulsive seizure frequency dropped significantly, with 44% of patients reporting a marked reduction after just 3 months. Status epilepticus cases nearly halved — from 33 patients at baseline to 14 by the final follow-up — and the median episode duration fell from 30 to 15 minutes. Rescue medication use and ER visits/hospitalizations also declined sharply, and 52% of patients showed improved quality of life.
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Why it matters: Dravet syndrome is a severe, treatment-resistant epilepsy that begins in infancy and carries significant morbidity. Real-world evidence like STIRUS helps clinicians feel confident using stiripentol earlier — potentially in infants — to reduce long-term disease burden beyond what trial data alone can show.
