How far are we from the best preclinical models of drug-resistant epilepsy?

Abstract

Drug-resistant epilepsy has a high prevalence worldwide despite efforts such as the Epilepsy Therapy Screening Program conducted by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. It is indicated that drug-resistant epilepsy has various manifestations, and each pattern of manifestation can be modeled using precise experimental models. However, the experimental models used to identify new antiseizure medications to control drug-resistant epilepsy to date do not typically take into account various clinical factors associated with this condition. These factors include comorbidities, sex, age, frequency of seizures and neuroinflammation. It is accordingly necessary to identify the proper characteristics of each type of drug-resistant epilepsy to be mimicked in preclinical models. The use of preclinical models mimicking the characteristics of the different patterns of drug-resistant epilepsy will allow identifying new therapeutic strategies to control this disorder. It is also essential to consider the heterogeneity of clinical factors involved in the condition of drug resistance in epilepsy to get the proper preclinical models.