title: Antiepileptic Drugs Under Investigation for Treatment of Focal Epilepsy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite optimal medical treatment, up to 30% of patients with epilepsy continue to experience recurrent seizures, and the challenge for new more efficacious and better-tolerated drugs is continuing. New antiepileptic drugs include the evolution of preexisting drugs and new compounds identified through the investigation of additional molecular targets, such as SV2A synaptic vesicle protein, voltage-gated potassium channels, ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors, and gap junctions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the available data about different classes of molecules that are in the pipeline for treatment of focal epilepsy. We will present data available on drugs derived from the evolution of preexisting anticonvulsants. We will then report the results on clinical trials performed with new compounds identified through the investigation of additional molecular targets.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The challenge for new, more efficacious, more specific, and better-tolerated drugs is continuing and a better knowledge of mechanisms underlying epilepsy should represent the guide for future research. The ultimate goal of treatment should be not only to render the patients seizure free but also to improve the quality of life and reduce costs of medical care.
authors.affiliation: *Pediatric Neurology and Muscular Diseases Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, "G. Gaslini" Institute, Genova, Italy; †Neurology Unit, Sant' Anna Hospital, Como, Italy; and ‡Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Striano
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Belcastro
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coppola
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Minetti
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Striano
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants