 (UK Daily Mail, October 5, 2007)
Thousands of children with epilepsy could benefit
from the first drug ever designed for them, which can almost halve the number of
seizures.
Unlike other treatments given to youngsters with
epilepsy, Inovelon was not originally developed for adults.
Usually children with the condition are put on
medication only tested on adults which is adjusted for their age and weight, but
experts say the long-term safety of some drugs has not been properly assessed
for youngsters.
Inovelon has been designed for children with a type
of epilepsy called Lennox-Gastaut syndrome which causes 'Drop' attacks where
sufferers fall to the floor during seizures.
Clinical trials showed the drug led to a 42.5 per
cent reduction in the frequency of 'drop' attacks. It reduced the occurrence of
all types of seizure by 32.7 per cent.
Launched in the UK today, the drug will be used to
treat around 1,000 children with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. It may also
potentially help an additional 20,000 children with more common forms of
epilespy. Inovelon is a one a day pill that costs £5 a day.
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