Progress report on new antiepileptic drugs: a summary of the Fifth Eilat Conference (EILAT V)

The Fifth Eilat Conference on New Antiepileptic Drugs (AEDs) took place at the Dan Hotel, Eilat, Israel, 25-29 June 2000. Basic scientists, clinical p harmacologists and neurologists from 20 countries attended the conference, whose main themes included recognition of unexpected adverse effects, new i ndications of AEDs, and patient-tailored AED therapy. According to traditio n, the central part of the conference was devoted to a review of AEDs in de velopment, as well to updates on AEDs that have been marketed in recent yea rs. This article summarizes the information presented on drugs in preclinic al and clinical development, including AWD 131-138, DP-valproate, harkoseri de, LY300164, NPS 1776, NW 1015. pregabalin, remacemide, retigabine, rufina mide and valrocemide. The potential value of an innovative strategy, porcin e embryonic GABAergic cell transplants, is also discussed. Finally, updates on felbamate, fosphenytoin, gabapentin, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, oxcarb azepine, tiagabine, topiramate, vigabatrin, zonisamide, and the antiepilept ic vagal stimulator device are presented. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. Al l rights reserved.