Media Release

Statement from the Epilepsy Foundation

Regarding new clinical trials into sodium selenate for the treatment of epilepsy

The Epilepsy Foundation welcomed news today regarding clinical trials for a potential new drug treatment for epilepsy, sodium selenate, but cautioned it is early days in the research into the effectiveness of the drug in treating epilepsy in humans.

Mr Graeme Shears, chief executive officer of the Epilepsy Foundation said, “This is very exciting news and gives hope to people impacted by an epilepsy diagnosis that there may be a better option for management of seizures in the future.

“However, while sodium selenate is seeing positive results in rodents, the side-effects and benefits in humans are, as yet, unknown.

“The Epilepsy Foundation welcomes and encourages all new trials as there are currently 250,000 people living with epilepsy in Australia with approximately 30 percent who do not respond to current anti-seizure treatments and who continue to have ongoing, often debilitating, seizures.

“The drug is at first clinical trial stage which, if proven, will be an effective treatment for people with drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy, which is a common form of focal epilepsy.

“In the last 50 years, we have had over 20 new drugs and the rate of seizure freedom has not changed.

“So, while encouraging, it is still early days.”

Trials will be held in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth and are set to start in October.

Anyone interested in enquiring about enrolling in the trial should speak directly with their epileptologist or neurologist.

Media enquiries

For further information please contact: 

Graeme Shears, CEO, Epilepsy Foundation E:  gshears@epilepsyfoundation.org.au     P:  0419 136 051

Julie Stephens, PR, Epilepsy Foundation      E:  jstephens@epilepsyfoundation.org.au   P:  0413 119 673

20 March 2023