Targeting Epilepsy Ictogenesis Process Through Pannexin-1 Modulation

Project Information

PanThera

Grant agreement ID: 101069281

DOI

10.3030/101069281

Project closed

EC signature date 31 May 2022

Start date 1 October 2022

End date 31 March 2024

Funded under

• European Research Council (ERC)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 150 000,00

Coordinated by

COLLEGE DE FRANCE
France

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PanThera (Targeting Epilepsy Ictogenesis Process Through Pannexin-1 Modulation)

Reporting period: 2022-10-01 to 2024-03-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Epilepsy, affecting about 1% of the population, comprises a group of neurological disorders characterized by the periodic occurrence of seizures, which disrupt normal brain function. Despite treatment with current antiepileptic drugs, one third of epileptic patients are pharmacoresistant and most patients suffer from side effects, making it crucial to develop novel therapies. Current drugs indeed target channels and receptors involved in normal brain function, not specific to the disease.
Our academic work has recently identified a novel and innovative target for epilepsy, which is active during the transition to epileptic seizures. This target could therefore allow to specifically counteract epileptic seizures without altering physiological cerebral processes. Our preclinical investigations have shown that a molecule acting on this target can counteract seizures both ex vivo in human postoperative epileptic tissues and in vivo in an animal model of recurrent focal epilepsy. These results led to a patent for the use of this molecule to treat epileptic conditions. Our project aimed at completing the pharmacological preclinical package of this molecule as an antiepileptic drug.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

To do so, we characterized its pharmacodynamic-pharmacokinetic activity, tested its dose effect in a model of focal epilepsy, as well as assessed its effect on another form on epilepsy.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

This study should contribute to bring to the market a new generation of antiepileptic drugs.