Advancements in Epilepsy Research

Although the field of epilepsy research is well-established, we have only just begun to scratch the surface of our understanding of more complex epilepsies. We are entering a period of disruption, where new breakthroughs and the integration of innovative technologies into drug discovery and development show promise in transforming epilepsy care. One area is ‘molecular hallmarks’ – molecular signatures that contribute to the presentation of complex epilepsies. 

Discovering ‘molecular hallmarks’ 

At UCB, a key area of our research is focused on broadening targets for treatments. In a study published earlier this year, we identified well-known and new gene regulatory networks shared across different refractory epilepsies; we called these ‘molecular hallmarks’.i This research was the culmination of five years of collaborative work that has enabled us to start to advance our understanding of hard-to-treat epilepsies and opened new possibilities for drug-target discovery and development.  

‘Molecular hallmarks’ are currently under study by our Early Development team who have mapped out a strategy for further research to potentially make the hallmarks targetable. The research targets include neuronal support and myelination, neuroinflammation and immune response, energy metabolism, and the brain extracellular matrix (ECM).  

Targeting complex epilepsies 

Epilepsy is more than seizures and we are continuing to uncover the vast complexities of the condition. ‘Molecular hallmarks’, therefore, offer potential additional targets for epilepsy treatments that go beyond seizure suppression, enabling us to target the underlying mechanisms of the most challenging seizure disorders. This shift represents a move away from conventional treatment methods, and into research that focuses potentially disease modifying therapies.

This ‘molecular hallmark’ research is an important part of our epilepsy strategy and provides a data-driven framework for the further identification and intervention of further dysregulated biological pathways.

Ultimately, our goal at UCB is to develop new treatment options, based on these scientific discoveries, that can attempt to enhance patient outcomes.  

The role of computational biology  

Epilepsy is not a one-size-fits-all condition. Each person’s experience of living with epilepsy is unique and given what we know so far about the complexity of epilepsies, there is a clear role for computational biology in epilepsy research. Through analysis of the expression profiles of refractory epilepsies, we can start to understand global biological mechanisms that are impacted in refractory epilepsies. Our research continues to drive our understanding of the human pathobiology of different refractory epilepsies to support our aim to identify new disease modifying treatments for patients. This research aims to help us comprehend the mechanisms underpinning epilepsy and enable the development of new therapies for refractory epilepsies.  

The future of research 

Everything we do starts with people and families living with epilepsies, helping them achieve their ideal and maximize their life opportunities. Looking to the future as we advance our epilepsy research, we recognize that those living with complex epilepsies will continue to rely on chronic, symptomatic anti-seizure medicines, and we continue our research to help improve outcomes with the symptomatic approaches available to patients today. However, we constantly need to push our approaches to secure the best outcome for those we serve. Molecular hallmarks and master regulators provide invaluable insights and open new avenues for precision medicine and new treatments that address the unmet needs of people living with epilepsies.