Elsevier

Epilepsy Research

Volume 61, Issues 1–3, September–October 2004, Pages 1-48
Epilepsy Research

Conference Review
Progress report on new antiepileptic drugs: a summary of the Seventh Eilat Conference (EILAT VII)

This manuscript is dedicated to the memory of Professor Pierre Loiseau, Bordeaux, France, who suddenly left us on March 29th, 2004. Pierre was an eminent epileptologist and a great human being, and he was for many years a member of the Eilat Conferences Organizing Committee. His excellent scientific ability and human modesty remind us of the words from the song:” Where are there more people like this great man? …”
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2004.07.010Get rights and content

Abstract

The Seventh Eilat Conference on New Antiepileptic Drugs (AEDs) (EILAT VII) took place in Villasimius, Sardinia, Italy from the 9th to 13th May 2004. Basic scientists, clinical pharmacologists and neurologists from 24 countries attended the conference, whose main themes included advances in pathophysiology of drug resistance, new AEDs in pediatric epilepsy syndromes, modes of AED action and spectrum of adverse effects and a re-appraisal of comparative responses to AED combinations. Consistent with previous formats of this conference, the central part of the conference was devoted to a review of AEDs in development, as well as updates on second-generation AEDs. This article summarizes the information presented on drugs in development, including atipamezole, BIA-2-093, fluorofelbamate, NPS 1776, pregabalin, retigabine, safinamide, SPM 927, stiripentol, talampanel, ucb 34714 and valrocemide (TV 1901). Updates on felbamate, gabapentin, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine, tiagabine, topiramate, vigabatrin, zonisamide, new oral and parenteral formulations of valproic acid and SPM 927 and the antiepileptic vagal stimulator device are also presented.

Introduction

The Seventh Eilat Conference on New Antiepileptic Drugs (AEDs) (EILAT VII) took place in Villasimius, Sardinia, Italy from the 9th to 13th May 2004. Basic scientists, clinical pharmacologists and neurologists from 24 countries attended the conference, whose main themes included advances in pathophysiology of drug resistance, new AEDs in pediatric epilepsy syndromes, modes of AED action and spectrum of adverse effects and a re-appraisal of comparative responses to AED combinations. Consistent with previous formats of this conference, the central part of the conference was devoted to a review of AEDs in development, as well as updates on second-generation AEDs. This article summarizes the information presented on drugs in development, including atipamezole (AMZ), BIA-2-093, fluorofelbamate (FFBM), NPS 1776, pregabalin (PGB), retigabine (RGB), safinamide (SAF), SPM 927, stiripentol (STP), talampanel (TLP), ucb 34714 and valrocemide (TV 1901, VLR). Updates on felbamate (FBM), gabapentin (GBT), lamotrigine (LTG), levetiracetam (LEV), oxcarbazepine (OXC), tiagabine (TGB), topiramate (TPM), vigabatrin (VGB), zonisamide (ZNS), new oral and parenteral formulations of valproic acid (VPA) and SPM 927 and the antiepileptic vagal stimulator device were also presented.

Section snippets

Atipamezole

A. Pitkänena,b, J. Nissinena, A. Haapalinnac, J. Sirviöc

aA.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland

bKuopio University Hospital, Department of Neurology, Kuopio, Finland

cOrion Corporation, Orion Pharma, Turku, Finland

Felbamate

B. A. Roeckleina, J. Gatesb, D. Dickensb

aMedPointe Pharmaceuticals, Somerset, NJ, USA

bMinnesota Epilepsy Group, PA, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Pharmacokinetics and clinical experience with divalproex-ER

J.C. Cloyd, R.C. Reed, S. Dutta, T.B. Smith

aCollege of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

bAbbott Laboratories, Global Pharmaceutical Research & Development, Abbott Park, IL 60064, USA

Vagus nerve stimulation

S. C. Schachter

Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA

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