New Drugs Suppress Absence Seizures

A team of Canadian and Australian researchers led by the University of British Columbia have announced that they have developed two new drugs that prevent absence seizures, also called petit mal seizures. The drugs, named Z941 and Z944, block calcium ions from entering neurons through T-type calcium channels. The drugs will soon be undergoing testing on humans.

Z944 is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials for treating inflammatory pain. ("New drugs show promise for preventing “absence seizures” in children: UBC research," February 15, 2012)

Read the press release here.