Replies to post #298981 on Anavex Life Sciences Corp (AVXL)

[dadofmarcmax]

Hi Abe,

Not knowing the circumstances of your wife's condition but in the know about a lot of Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE is the most common form of the focal epilepsies), there is a new antiepileptic medication on the market that has been a game-changer (in my humble opinion) in terms of help for patients with intractable/refractory epilepsy (25-33% of all epileptics are refractory - in that they continue to have seizures on full doses of at least 2 medications).

Throughout the years, there really has been no improvement in terms of lessening the percentage of refractory epileptics, even with the addition of many new medications, some with different mechanisms of action, over the years.

Then, last year - Xcopri came out (SK Life Sciences - American subsidiary of the giant SK corporation in Korea) and cenobamate (the generic name) has been working wonders. First time ever - a study showed that about 20% of patients who got up to a dose of 200 mg daily (patients who averaged some 8-12 seizures/month and on at least 2 other antiepileptic medications with an average diagnosis of epilepsy of 19 years) had a 100% seizure reduction.

Cenobamate is unique in that it seems to have effects on sodium channels and on chloride channels,

Anyway, if your wife has refractory temporal lobe epilepsy, may I suggest you inquire about Xcopri (cenobamate). Its a nice tool to have in the bucket when you have patients who are scared chitless about epilepsy surgery to the point where they won't even go for the workup to see if they are a good surgical candidate. Now I can say - "okay, this is the last chance we have; after this, no further medication switches are going to ever help you get better we have to consider surgery and/or other non-medication options but, we have a new drug called Xcopri......"

From that point on, the conversation changes - and of the patient's that I have put on it so far (about 20 now) - I have only had to stop 2 off of it due to side effects. All 20! had a reduction in their seizures......it was pretty amazing.

Go Anavex! (to make this post pertinent)