Dravet Syndrome
                     Dravet Syndrome: Overview, Epidemiology, Treatment Market, Emerging Drugs and Key 
players
Dravet Syndrome is a severe form of epilepsy characterized by frequent, prolonged seizures 
often triggered by high body temperature (hyperthermia), developmental delay, speech 
impairment, ataxia, hypotonia, sleep disturbances, and other health problems. 
How Dravet Syndrome has impacted people's lives?
Key facts of Dravet Syndrome Epidemiology:-
 The total Dravet Syndrome incident population in 7MM was 30,820 in 2017 
 The number of Dravet Syndrome patients in the United States was 20,912 in 2017 
 The number of Dravet Syndrome patients in Japan in 2017 was 2,766 
 The age-specific incidence in the US was the highest among 4–8 years old, followed by 
9–13 years old patients in 2017 
 The seizure-associated cases of Dravet Syndrome in Japan in 2017 was 1,369 
How will Disease transform Dravet Syndrome Market? 
Valproic Acid (Epival) and Clobazam (Onfi) constitute the first line of therapy for the 
management of Dravet Syndrome. These are a broad-spectrum antiepileptic agent with multiple 
mechanisms of action that include increasing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) synthesis and 
decreasing GABA degradation, inhibiting voltage-sensitive sodium channels and T-type calcium 
channels and possibly reducing glutamate synthesis; they constitute the first generation of 
antiepileptic therapies. 
Second-line antiepileptic drugs comprise of Topiramate (Topamax) and Stiripentol (Diacomit, 
Biocodex). Topiramate is a broad-spectrum antiepileptic drug with multiple mechanisms of 
action, including enhancement of GABAergic activity, inhibition of kainite and AMPA 
glutamate receptors, blockage of voltage-dependent sodium and calcium channels, and increases 
in potassium conductance. Evidence of its efficacy based on any large-scale cross-sectional 
studies is, however, not available.  
Stiripentol (Diacomit) on the other hand, is a structurally unique antiepileptic drug approved for 
use in Europe, Japan and USA for refractory seizures in Dravet Syndrome, in combination with 
valproic acid and clobazam. Although approved in Europe and Japan since 2007 and 2012 
respectively, it received FDA approval late last year. Its novelty lies in the fact that with regards 
to its GABAergic action, stiripentol acts on a site distinct from those on which benzodiazepines 
and neurosteroids act. However, it is used in combination with valproic acid and clobazam as 
there is no evidence to support its use as monotherapy. 
Third-line antiepileptic drugs consist of Levetiracetam (Keppra), Zonisamide, Clonazepam 
(Klonopin) and few others. Levetiracetam novel, broad-spectrum, anti-seizure medication with 
several possible mechanisms of action. Zonisamide is a sulfonamide with broad-spectrum 
anticonvulsant properties. Its mechanism of action is thought to be cell membrane stabilization 
by blocking the repetitive firing of voltage-sensitive sodium channels and reducing voltage-
sensitive T-type calcium currents without affecting L-type calcium currents. Ethosuximide is an 
anti-seizure medication that has a narrow therapeutic profile and is used predominantly for 
absence seizures but also has some data for harmful myoclonic seizures.
Dravet Syndrome Market Drivers
 Increase in research activities
 Increasing disease awareness
Dravet Syndrome Market Barriers 
 Disease Burden
 Diagnostic Challenges
 Comparatively Reduced Focus
Which biotechnical companies are developing Dravet Syndrome drugs? 
Dravet Syndrome Emerging Drugs 
1. ZX008 by Zogenix
2. Soticlestat by Ovid Therapeutics
3. Ataluren by PTC Therapeutics
Dravet Syndrome Marketed Drugs
1. Diacomit by Biocodex
2. Epidiolex by GW Pharmaceuticals
Overall, the increasing awareness of the disease assisted by organizational support along with the
promising Dravet Syndrome pipeline therapies is expected to fuel Dravet Syndrome market 
size during the forecast period of 2020–2030.