Key clinical point: Among patients with uncontrolled focal seizures, adjunctive cenobamate reduces focal-onset seizure frequency and may lead to increased rates of seizure freedom.

Major finding: The median percentage change from baseline in focal seizure frequency per 28 days during treatment was –24% for the placebo group and –35.5% for the cenobamate 100-mg group. The cenobamate 200-mg group and the cenobamate 400-mg/day group each had a change of –55%. Furthermore, during a 12-week maintenance phase, 21% of patients who received cenobamate 400 mg/day and 11% who received cenobamate 200 mg/day were seizure free, compared with 1% who received placebo.

Study details: An 18-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial that enrolled more than 430 adults with uncontrolled focal epilepsy who were taking one to three other antiseizure medications.

Disclosures: The study was funded by SK Life Science, the developer of cenobamate. One of the study authors is an employee of SK Life Science. Dr. Krauss is a consultant or advisor for Eisai, Otsuka, and Shire and has received research support from Biogen, SK Life Science, and UCB.