January 09, 2026

158: Bexicaserin, the PACIFIC Trial, and Treating Developmental Epileptic Encephalopathies

14 minutes

Welcome to the NeurologyLive® Mind Moments® podcast. Tune in to hear leaders in neurology sound off on topics that impact your clinical practice.

In this episode, "Bexicaserin, the PACIFIC Trial, and Treating Developmental Epileptic Encephalopathies," Johannes Streffer, MD, PhD, discusses phase 1/2 findings from the PACIFIC trial evaluating bexicaserin in developmental epileptic encephalopathies, presented at the American Epilepsy Society 2025 Annual Meeting. Streffer, senior vice president of clinical development at Lundbeck, outlines the scientific and clinical rationale for studying DEEs as a unified population, emphasizing the unmet need and complexity of trial design in this highly vulnerable group. He reviews key efficacy outcomes, including sustained reductions in countable motor seizures and strong patient retention through long-term open-label extension and expanded access follow-up. The discussion also explores safety and tolerability considerations in patients receiving multiple concomitant antiseizure medications, the highly selective mechanism of action of bexicaserin, and how Lundbeck’s broader strategy in rare neurological disorders aims to de-risk development early while addressing populations with limited therapeutic options.

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Episode Breakdown:

1:05 – Rationale for studying developmental epileptic encephalopathies as a unified group

3:05 – Challenges of trial design and retention in vulnerable pediatric DEE populations

5:25 – Key PACIFIC efficacy findings and long-term open-label extension results

7:05 – Neurology News Minute

9:15 – Safety, tolerability, and drug-drug interaction considerations for bexicaserin

11:20 – Lundbeck's strategy across rare and severe neurological disorders

The stories featured in this week's Neurology News Minute, which will give you quick updates on the following developments in neurology, are further detailed here:

Remyelinating Agent PIPE-307 Falls Short in Phase 2 Trial of Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis

Semaglutide Linked to Improved Neurological Outcomes in Large Vessel Occlusion Without IV Thrombolysis

FDA Approves Generic Glatiramer Acetate Injection for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment

Thanks for listening to the NeurologyLive® Mind Moments® podcast. To support the show, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. For more neurology news and expert-driven content, visit neurologylive.com.

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