Purple Day 2025, celebrated on March 26, has set sail with the theme “Power In Purple,” honoring the strength and resilience of individuals living with epilepsy.
Organized in collaboration between the Epilepsy Foundation and The Anita Kaufmann Foundation, this year’s Purple Day highlights the importance of solidarity, visibility and education.
Epilepsy is characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures caused by irregular brain activity. Major forms include focal and generalized epilepsies, as well as syndromes like Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut, each requiring tailored care.
Epilepsy affects about 3 million Americans and 65 million people worldwide. Nearly 40% live with drug-resistant forms of the condition, meaning current treatments do not fully control their seizures.
Let’s explore some of the innovative research and emerging trends shaping the epilepsy treatment landscape in this blog.
Exploring Innovation in Epilepsy on Purple Day 2025
The progress seen in epilepsy research over recent years is nothing short of inspiring. Here are five key examples of current research and innovation driving the field forward between 2024 and early 2025:
Third-Generation Antiseizure Medications Show Promise
Recent clinical data shared in Epilepsia spotlighted Xcopri (cenobamate), developed by SK Life Science. It’s part of a new generation of antiseizure medications that fine-tune brain signaling.
Unlike older drugs that broadly suppress brain activity, Xcopri targets persistent sodium currents and enhances gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) activity — the brain’s main calming neurotransmitter — to help restore balance.
Long-term studies show that up to 16.4% of patients reached seizure freedom. Results were strong in older adults and patients with high-risk seizure types. These findings point to safer, more effective options for drug-resistant epilepsy.
Zorevunersen Offers Disease-Modifying Potential for Dravet Syndrome
Stoke Therapeutics is advancing zorevunersen, an investigational antisense oligonucleotide therapy for Dravet syndrome. It works by increasing SCN1A gene expression, which is crucial for stabilizing brain signaling.
In its Phase I/II trial, patients saw big reductions in seizure frequency. Improvements in cognition and behavior were also reported, suggesting the therapy’s potential for disease modification.
Based on these results, Stoke will initiate the global Phase III EMPEROR study in the second quarter of 2025. The 60-week trial will enroll 150 children and adolescents and measure seizure control, cognition and behavior. The drug has received Breakthrough Therapy designation from the FDA.
First-in-Class Cell Therapy for Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
The EPIC Phase III study is now underway for NRTX-1001, Neurona’s first-in-class cell therapy for drug-resistant focal epilepsy. The therapy delivers GABA-producing neural progenitor cells into the seizure focus. These cells integrate into brain circuits and help rebalance electrical activity.
In Phase I/II trials with patients who have drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE), results were encouraging.
The low-dose group saw a 92% median reduction in disabling seizures. The high-dose group achieved a 78% reduction. The first two participants maintained over 97% seizure reduction for two years after treatment.
The Phase III trial will now evaluate safety and sustained seizure reduction in a larger population. If successful, NRTX-1001 could offer a non-surgical, lasting treatment for patients with MTLE.
AI-Powered Wearable Technology for Seizure Prediction
BrainChip Holdings Ltd and Onsor Technologies have developed seizure-detecting smart glasses that utilize neuromorphic computing to predict epileptic seizures before they occur.
These wearable glasses incorporate electroencephalography (EEG) sensors and BrainChip’s Akida neuromorphic processor, enabling real-time analysis of brain activity with ultra-low power consumption.
Early data show a prediction accuracy above 95%. Alerts are sent to the wearer via a connected mobile device. This wearable technology could allow people with epilepsy to take proactive measures, enhancing their safety and independence.
Neurostimulation Market Expansion
The global neurostimulation device market is projected to reach $22.3 billion by 2034, with an annual growth rate of nearly 12%.
Neurostimulation technologies, such as vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and responsive neurostimulation (RNS), help reduce seizure frequency in patients who do not respond to medication.
New systems now use adaptive neurostimulation, where implanted devices monitor brain activity in real-time and adjust electrical impulses accordingly. This AI-driven approach improves personalization and could transform the quality of life for epilepsy patients.
On Purple Day 2025: What Are Some Current Trends?
Epilepsy research is becoming more personalized, technology-driven and collaborative.
The National Plan for Epilepsy Act, introduced in February, is expected to foster cross-sector partnerships between research institutions, healthcare systems and industry.
Imaging and biomarker research are improving diagnostic precision. Advanced MRI and PET scans help detect subtle seizure foci, while biomarkers like neurofilament light chain (NfL) are being studied as early indicators of seizure activity.
Non-invasive approaches, including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), are in early trials and showing potential to modulate brain activity in focal epilepsy. Precision medicine is also gaining ground.
Machine learning is also advancing, with predictive algorithms trained on EEG data and patient histories now demonstrating the ability to forecast seizures, offering the potential to make care more proactive.
While challenges remain — like Takeda’s recent discontinuation of soticlestat after Phase III setbacks — the broader research landscape is still moving forward with new therapy areas and the growing integration of AI-powered devices.
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