What the trial was testing
The trial enrolled 87 patients with epilepsy. The study was sponsored by Zogenix International Limited, Inc., a subsidiary of Zogenix, Inc. and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
It was a large trial designed to confirm whether the treatment works well enough for wider use. Trials at this stage are designed to produce evidence regulators and physicians can act on — not just observations to follow up later.
What the results showed
54% of children taking fenfluramine had their seizures cut in half or more, compared to only 5% taking a sugar pill.
JAMA neurology · 2020 · NCT02926898
These findings — that children taking fenfluramine had 54% fewer seizures per month than those on placebo — were published in the JAMA neurology and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 87 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with epilepsy, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
Fenfluramine (brand name Fintepla) is now FDA-approved for Dravet syndrome in patients 2 years and older. If your child has Dravet syndrome and seizures aren't well controlled with current medications, ask your neurologist whether fenfluramine might help.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open epilepsy trials
Butylphthalide for Cognitive Impairment in Elderly Patients With Focal Epilepsy
This is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of butylphthalide soft capsules for treating cognitive impairment in elderly patients with focal epilepsy. Study Population: 220 elderly patients (60-85 years) with focal epilepsy and mild to moderate cognitive impairment (Montreal Cognitive Assessment score 18-25). Intervention: Participants will be randomly assigned 1:1 to receive either butylphthalide soft capsules (0.2g three times daily) or matching placebo for 48 weeks, while continuing their stable anti-seizure medication regimen. Primary Outcome: Change in Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) total score from baseline to 48 weeks. Secondary Outcomes: Changes in neuropsychological tests (Trail Making Test, Digit Span, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test), seizure control measures, functional status (Activities of Daily Living, Quality of Life in Epilepsy), and exploratory neurobiological markers. This study addresses an important unmet medical need, as current epilepsy treatments focus primarily on seizure control but lack effective interventions for epilepsy-associated cognitive impairment. Butylphthalide, a neuroprotective agent approved for acute ischemic stroke in China, has shown promise in other cognitive disorders and may benefit this patient population through its multiple neuroprotective mechanisms.
Rare Disease Patient Registry & Natural History Study - Coordination of Rare Diseases at Sanford
CoRDS, or the Coordination of Rare Diseases at Sanford, is based at Sanford Research in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It provides researchers with a centralized, international patient registry for all rare diseases. This program allows patients and researchers to connect as easily as possible to help advance treatments and cures for rare diseases. The CoRDS team works with patient advocacy groups, individuals and researchers to help in the advancement of research in over 7,000 rare diseases. The registry is free for patients to enroll and researchers to access. Visit sanfordresearch.org/CoRDS to enroll.