New Drug of the day : Lacosamide

Lacosamide, a "functionalized" amino acid, was licensed for adjunctive therapy of partial-onset seizures. Lacsamide modulates sodium channels and also binds to collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2). CRCMP2 is involved in neuronal differentiation, axonal outgrowth and possibly epileptogenesis³ 

References :- 

(see 11th edition of Goodman & Gilman, pages 501-525).

1. Rogawski MA. Diverse mechanisms of antiepileptic drugs in the development pipeline. Epilepsy Res 2006;69(3):273-94. [PMID: 16621450] 

2. Johannessen Landmark C, Johannessen SI. Pharmacological management of epilepsy: recent advances and future prospects. Drugs 2008;68(14):1925-39. [PMID: 18778117] 

 3. Perucca E, Yasothan U, Clincke G, et al. Lacosamide. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2008;7(12):973-4. [PMID: 19043448]