Kelly Knupp, MD: Treatment Landscape for Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome

"The fact that this has an appetite suppressant may be an added benefit to some of our patients. It’s definitely an [adverse] effect that we have to watch for, especially because it may not be of benefit to some, but for the others who may need that, it can be of benefit.”

Fenfluramine (Fintepla; Zogenix), a drug already approved by the FDA for the treatment of Dravet syndrome (DS), recently met its primary end point in the phase 3 Study 1601 (NCT03355209) for patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS). The study, which was presented at the American Epilepsy Society (AES) Virtual Meeting, December 4–8, 2020, raises questions about if the drug may be next in line to gain FDA approval for the LGS population.

Kelly Knupp, MD, pediatric neurologist and epilepsy specialist, Children’s Hospital Colorado, and lead investigator of the study feels as though there has been enough demonstrated benefit to garner an approval. The most recent addition to the LGS treatment landscape was the approval of cannabidiol (CBD) oral solution, marketed as Epidiolex, in June 2018.

NeurologyLive sat down with Knupp to get her thoughts on the landscape as a whole, and her perspective on the potential advantages fenfluramine might offer over other medications if approved.

For more coverage of AES 2020, click here.