Epilepsy pipeline conference 2026 - 5 key insights shaping the future of epilepsy innovation
1. new approach methodologie are gaining momentum... but not replacing everything
New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) were addressed during the conference as an emerging solution to preclinical animal studies.
The emerging consensus:
- Powerful complementary tools
- Potential to reduce animal use
- Valuable for early-stage screening
However, important limitations remain to NAM usage :
- Lack of pharmacokinetics
- Seizure propagation studies
- Complex safety and side-effect assessment
- The need to take into account the brain damages caused by multiple seizures
- Unable to reproduce neural networks
The future appears to be integration, not replacement.
2. patient experience is becoming a key measure of success
For years, the main question was :
How many seizures can we eliminate?
Today, the conversation is broader:
- Quality of life
- Treatment tolerability
- Daily functioning
- Patient-centered outcomes
When efficacy is comparable, better safety and tolerability can be what sets a therapy apart.
Even a modest efficacy gain can carry real value when it comes with meaningfully better tolerability.
3. Absence epilepsy remains an underrecognized challenge
Despite its significant impact on daily life:
- Brief staring or behavioral arrest is easily mistaken for daydreaming, inattention, or ADHD
- Awareness remains limited outside specialist communities
- Needs persist: some patients respond poorly to first-line therapy, and certain anticonvulsants can worsen absences
The epilepsy community still has work to do in educating stakeholders about absence epilepsy.
4. The field is looking beyond seizures
Many discussions focused on outcomes that matter deeply to patients and families:
- Cognition
- Mental health (depression, anxiety)
- Sleep
- Neurodevelopment
- Overall well-being
Seizure control remains essential. But :
Fewer seizures is the starting point. A better life is the goal.
5. A remarkably diverse pipeline
The epilepsy innovation landscape continues to expand with approaches including:
- Gene therapies
- Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs)
- Cell therapies
- Novel ion channel targets
- Precision medicine for rare epilepsies
- Neurostimulation / closed-look devices
- Intracellular targets
The breadth of the current pipeline reflects a rapidly evolving field.
Hugo Monchal, MSc
Head of Scientific Sales at SynapCell
Hugo Monchal is Head of Scientific Sales at SynapCell, supporting biopharmaceutical partners in advancing preclinical CNS research through translational electrophysiology and EEG-based solutions. He works closely with scientific and operational teams to align study designs with research objectives. Operating at the interface of neuroscience expertise and commercial commitment, he contributes to the development of tailored, scientifically driven approaches enabling objective assessment of drug effects on brain function. At SynapCell, he fosters long-term partnerships and supports decision-making in CNS drug discovery programs.