New therapies for neurodevelopmental epilepsy

Epilepsy remains a therapeutic challenge, with 20-30% of patients resistant to treatment. In children, epilepsy occurs in the developing brain and has cognitive and behavioral impacts. There are few treatments adapted to infants, despite the fact that this is the age at which the incidence is the highest.

Our project aims to develop treatments specifically targeting the neurodevelopmental features of neurotransmission, and to improve clinical trial methodologies for childhood epilepsy.
Our goal is to:
i) Control epileptic seizures
ii) Prevent their cognitive and behavioral consequences

We are also working on new clinical trial methodologies, one of the main obstacles to drug development for infants.

Members:
Stéphane Auvin (Professor – Hospital Practitioner), Blandine Dozière (Hospital Practitioner), Sarah Rozès Poblet (PhD student)

Recent publications:

Glycopyrronium 320 μg/mL in children and adolescents with severe sialorrhoea and neurodisabilities: An open-label study extension of the SALIVA trial. Fayoux P, Dinomais M, Shaw H, Villain F, Schwartz D, Gautheron V, Letellier G, Auvin S. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2025 Jan 31. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.16251.

To what extent does status epilepticus contribute to brain damage in the developmental and epileptic Encephalopathies. Specchio N, Auvin S. Epilepsy Behav. 2025 Jan 29;164:110271. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2025.110271.

Refining management strategies for Lennox-Gastaut syndrome: Updated algorithms and practical approaches.Auvin S, Arzimanoglou A, Falip M, Striano P, Cross JH.. Epilepsia Open. 2025 Feb;10(1):85-106. doi: 10.1002/epi4.13075.

Pharmacotherapeutic strategies for drug-resistant epilepsy in children. Auvin S, Specchio N. Epilepsy Behav. 2024 Dec;161:110139. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2024.110139.

Pharmacological management of prolonged seizures in Dravet syndrome including intravenous phenytoin. Abi Tayeh R, Dozières-Puyravel B, Arnaud L, Titomanlio L, Dauger S, Höhn S, Le Guern E, Auvin S. Epilepsia. 2024 Oct;65(10):e175-e181. doi: 10.1111/epi.18101.

WONOEP 2022: Neurotechnology for the diagnosis of epilepsy. Wagstyl K, Kobow K, Casillas-Espinosa PM, Cole AJ, Jiménez-Jiménez D, Nariai H, Baulac S, O’Brien T, Henshall DC, Akman O, Sankar R, Galanopoulou AS, Auvin S. Epilepsia. 2024 Aug;65(8):2238-2247. doi: 10.1111/epi.18028.