Progress report on new antiepileptic drugs: a summary of the fourth Eilat conference (EILAT IV)

The Fourth Eilat Conference on New Antiepileptic Drugs (AEDs) was held at t he Royal Beach Hotel, Eilat, Israel, from 6th to 10th September 1998. Epile ptologists and scientists from 20 countries attended the conference, which was held to discuss a number of issues in drug development, including outco me assessment in epilepsy (long-term efficacy, qualify of life, safety), co st-effectiveness, an update on drugs in development, a progress report on r ecently marketed AEDs, and controversies in strategies for drug development . This review focuses on drugs in development and recently marketed AEDs. D rugs in development include ADCI, AWD 131-138, DP16, ganaxolone (CCD 1042), levetiracetam (ucb L059), losigamone, pregabalin (isobutyl GABA [CI-1008]) , remacemide hydrochloride, retigabine (D-23129), rufinamide (CGP 33101), s oretolide (D2916), TV1901, and 534U87. New information on the safety and ef ficacy of recently marketed drugs (felbamate, fosphenytoin, gabapentin, lam otrigine, oxcarbazepine, tiagabine, topiramate, vigabatrin, zonisamide) and of a new antiepileptic device, the neurocybernetic prosthesis (NCP), has b ecome available. This paper summarizes the presentations made at the confer ence. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.