A kill switch for epilepsy? China cuts seizures by 92.6% in first human chemogenetic trial

A first-in-human chemogenetic trial in China reduced seizures by 92.6% in a patient with refractory epilepsy, according to the trial's reported results. The approach uses a chemogenetic system to suppress abnormal neural discharges in the brain, targeting the roughly one-third of epilepsy patients worldwide who do not respond to existing medications and for whom craniotomy resection carries a risk of irreversible neurological damage.

For people living with refractory epilepsy, the brain is like a city that can suffer a blackout any time lightning strikes. Without warning, an abnormal neural discharge can sweep through the intracranial circuits, leaving behind convulsions, loss of consciousness and years of lingering panic. Around one-third of epilepsy patients worldwide are completely unresponsive to existing medications, while traditional craniotomy resection surgery often carries the risk of irreversible neurological...