
Are We There Yet? New Agents and Foundational Shifts Toward Precision Medicine in Epilepsy
Released On
February 16, 2023
Expires On
February 16, 2024
Media Type
Internet
Completion Time
60 minutes
Specialty
Neurology
Topic(s)
Epilepsy
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This activity is jointly provided by Medical Education Resources (MER) and Efficient LLC.


This activity is supported by educational grants from Marinus Pharmaceuticals and Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc..
Credit Available
- Physicians — maximum of 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™
All other healthcare professionals completing this course will be issued a statement of participation.
Target Audience
The target audience for this initiative includes general neurologists, epileptologists, internal medicine physicians, and advanced practice professionals involved in the long-term management of patients with epilepsy.
Program Overview
Due to the historically limited understanding of underlying epilepsy pathology, treatment strategies have been associated with only modest improvements in disease control. However, recent advancements in genomic technology have allowed not only more precise diagnoses but the development of anti-seizure medications (ASMs) that may better target epilepsy etiologies. In this symposium, originally held in conjunction with the 2022 American Epilepsy Society annual meeting, experts explore how these developments are bringing us closer to an era of precision medicine. Drs Nilika Shah Singhal, Heather Olson, and Dennis Dlugos explore several patient scenarios that illustrate the clinical actionability of genetic testing and utility of increasingly targeted ASMs in modern epilepsy management.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be better able to:
- Evaluate clinical indicators (e.g., intractable seizures) and logistical considerations (e.g., test diagnostic capabilities) for guiding the pursuit of genetic testing in epilepsy to ensure early and accurate diagnosis
- Identify the current and potential roles of recently FDA-approved agents to determine how and for whom these agents may be best utilized
- Describe the biological rationale for and ongoing assessment of novel targeted therapeutic strategies to determine the potential future role of these agents in precision medicine and broader epilepsy management
Faculty

Nilika Shah Singhal, MD (Moderator & Chair)
Associate Professor of Neurology & Pediatrics
Bridges Coach, UCSF School of Medicine
Director, Inquiry Immersion, UCSF School of Medicine
Medical Director, Clinical Documentation Integrity Program, Benioff Children's Hospital
San Francisco, CA

Dennis Dlugos, MD, MSCE
Professor of Neurology at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Director, Pediatric Epilepsy Program
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA

Heather Olson, MD
Assistant Professor of Neurology
Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School
Director, CDKL5 Center of Excellence
Boston Children’s Hospital
Boston, MA
Physician Accreditation Statement
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Medical Education Resources (MER) and Efficient CME LLC. MER is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Physician Credit Designation
Medical Education Resources designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Planners' and Managers' Disclosure
Efficient CME LLC and Medical Education Resources' planners and managers have no financial relationships to disclose.
Disclosures of Conflicts of Interest
- Dr. Singhal
-
- reported no financial relationships
- Dr. Dlugos
-
- Grants/Research Support: The Epilepsy Study Consortium, Pediatric Epilepsy Research Foundation
- Dr. Olson
-
- Consulting Fees: FOXGl Foundation, Marinus Pharmaceuticals, Ovid Pharmaceuticals, Ultragenyx, Zogenix
Instructions for Participation and Credit
There are no fees for participating and receiving CME credit for this enduring activity. To receive CME credit participants must:
- Read the CME/CE information and faculty disclosures.
- Participate in the online activity.
- Complete the pre- and post-assessment and submit the evaluation form.
Certificates will be emailed to the participant.
Course Viewing Requirements
Supported Browsers:
Internet Explorer 8.0+ for Windows 2003, Vista, XP, Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and above
Google Chrome 28.0+ for Windows, Mac OS, or Linux
Mozilla Firefox 23.0+ for Windows, Mac OS, or Linux
Safari 6.0+ for Mac OSX 10.7 and above
Supported Phones & Tablets:
Android 4.0.3 and above
iPhone/iPad with iOS 6.1 or above
Disclosure of Unlabeled Use
This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. The planners of this activity do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications. The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of the planners. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.
Disclaimer
The content and views presented in this educational activity are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Medical Education Resources, Efficient CME LLA, and/or Marinus Pharmaceuticals and Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.. The authors have disclosed if there is any discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA in their presentations. Before prescribing any medicine, primary references and full prescribing information should be consulted. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient’s conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management.
Contact Information
For CME questions please contact: jkunst@cmepartner.org.