Increasing the Probability of Discovering Improved Antiepileptic Drugs through the Use of Human Epileptic Tissue

Abstract

Epilepsy affects millions of people world-wide with wideranging health and economic consequences [1]. A first-line approach to the control of epilepsy is through the administration of anticonvulsant drugs sometimes referred to as antiepileptics [2]. These medicines help control seizure activity but the evidence for controlling disease progression in patients is not firmly established [3]. There are many antiepileptics approved for clinical use [2] that dampen excitatory neurotransmission through different mechanisms including positive allosteric modulation of GABA (e.g., diazepam, valproic acid) and blockade of ion channels (e.g., gabapentin, lacosamide).