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Post-marketing Experience with Cenobamate in the Treatment of Focal Epilepsies: A Multicentre Cohort Study

A. Strzelczyk, F. von Podewils, H. Hamer, S. Knake, Felix Rosenow, K. Klotz, Gerhard Kurlemann, Nico Melzer et al.

CNS Drugs, 2025

234 participants · 21 citations

Abstract

In randomised controlled trials, adjunctive cenobamate (CNB) has been shown to reduce seizure frequency in patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy. Studies conducted in real-world settings provide valuable complementary data to further characterise the drug’s profile. To assess the efficacy, retention and tolerability of adjunctive cenobamate (CNB), and to identify factors that might predict these outcomes in the clinical treatment of focal epilepsies. This multicentre, retrospective cohort study included all patients who began CNB treatment between October 2020 and April 2023 at seven participating epilepsy centres. Baseline and follow-up data were collected from patients’ medical records, covering clinical characteristics and outcome data such as seizure frequency, dosing of CNB, physician-assessed Clinical Global Impression of Change, treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), CNB retention and reasons for discontinuation. A total of 234 patients [mean age 40.7 ± 14 years, median 40 years, range 11–82 years; five adolescents under 18 years; 99 (42.3%) males] were analysed. The mean epilepsy duration at study entry was 23.2 ± 14.5 years (median 21 years, range 0.75–63 years), with the average age of epilepsy onset being 17.5 ± 13.0 years (median 17 years, range 0.1–71 years). The patients were taking a mean of 2.6 ± 0.8 (median 3) anti-seizure medications (ASMs) before starting CNB, and had failed a mean of 6 ± 3.3 (median 6) of further ASMs in the past. CNB exposure…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 234 participants or records.

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