SK Life Science to Present Comprehensive Cenobamate Data and Patient-Provider Communication Study at AAN 2026
Key Insights
SK Life Science (search) will present ten posters at the 2026 American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting showcasing cenobamate's clinical outcomes, real-world evidence, and pharmacokinetic data across multiple patient populations.
The presentations include new analysis from the "Hope, Hesitancy, and Hard Truths" survey examining communication barriers between epilepsy (search) patients and healthcare providers, building on findings first shared during National Epilepsy Awareness Month.
Clinical data will cover cenobamate's efficacy in primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures (search) in adults and adolescents, healthcare utilization outcomes, and long-term safety results from multinational populations.
SK Life Science (search), Inc. announced it will present multiple comprehensive analyses of cenobamate (XCOPRI) and epilepsy (search) patient care insights at the 2026 American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting, scheduled for April 18-22, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois. The presentations encompass clinical outcomes, real-world evidence, pharmacokinetic studies, and groundbreaking research on patient-provider communication in epilepsy care.
Comprehensive Clinical and Real-World Evidence Portfolio
The company will present ten posters covering diverse aspects of cenobamate therapy, including healthcare utilization patterns, seizure outcomes, safety profiles, and treatment pathways. Key presentations include analyses of epilepsy (search)-related and all-cause healthcare resource utilization following cenobamate initiation, the impact of achieving zero seizures on healthcare costs, and mortality risk assessments compared to other antiseizure medications.
"Understanding how patients and healthcare providers communicate about epilepsy (search) is essential to improving care," said Sunita Misra, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer, SK Life Science (search), Inc. "The methodology behind the 'Hope, Hesitancy, and Hard Truths' survey provides important insight into the experiences of people living with epilepsy and the healthcare professionals involved in their care, including neurologists, epileptologists, and advanced practice providers."
Expanding Treatment Evidence Across Patient Populations
The clinical data presentations will include efficacy and safety results for adjunctive cenobamate in treating primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures (search) in both adults and adolescents. Population pharmacokinetic analyses will evaluate drug exposure patterns in adult and elderly focal seizure patients, while Phase 1 studies will examine appropriate dosing regimens for adolescent patients with focal epilepsy (search).
Long-term efficacy data from open-label extension studies in multinational Asian populations will provide insights into sustained treatment benefits. Additionally, research on delayed and deferred epilepsy (search) surgery associated with cenobamate use in drug-resistant focal epilepsy (search) patients addresses critical treatment pathway decisions.
Novel Patient-Provider Communication Research
A significant component of the presentations involves new methodological analysis from the "Hope, Hesitancy, and Hard Truths" survey, which explores communication dynamics between epilepsy (search) patients and healthcare providers. The survey, fielded by Wakefield Research (search) and commissioned by SK Life Science (search), includes perspectives from people living with epilepsy, neurologists, epileptologists, and advanced practice providers.
The research examines treatment expectations, seizure control discussions, and perceived barriers to care. Initial findings were shared during National Epilepsy (search) Awareness Month in November 2025, with the AAN 2026 analysis providing expanded methodological detail and broader respondent insights.
Addressing Significant Unmet Medical Need
The research presentations address a substantial clinical challenge in epilepsy (search) care. According to the source materials, epilepsy affects approximately 3.4 million people in the United States, with approximately 150,000 new cases diagnosed annually. Despite available treatments, nearly 40% of people with epilepsy do not achieve seizure freedom, highlighting the critical need for improved therapeutic options and care approaches.
Cenobamate's Unique Mechanism of Action
Cenobamate, marketed as XCOPRI in the United States, represents an antiseizure medication with a distinctive dual mechanism of action. The drug reduces neuronal excitability by preferentially inhibiting persistent sodium current (search) and enhancing GABAergic inhibition at the GABAA ion channel (search), though the precise therapeutic mechanism remains under investigation.
The medication is currently indicated for treating partial-onset seizures (search) in adults 18 years and older. SK Life Science (search) markets cenobamate in the United States, while international partnerships extend access through Paladin Labs Inc. (search) and Dexcel Ltd. in Canada and Israel, and Angelini Pharma S.p.A. (search) in Europe, the UK, and Switzerland under the brand name ONTOZRY.
Innovation in Drug Development and Formulation
Among the presentations, SK Life Science (search) will share results from a Phase 1 single-dose bioavailability study of an oral cenobamate suspension formulation, demonstrating ongoing efforts to expand treatment options and improve patient accessibility to the medication.
The comprehensive data presentation reflects SK Life Science (search)'s commitment to advancing epilepsy (search) care through evidence-based research spanning clinical efficacy, real-world outcomes, and patient-centered care approaches. The company, a U.S. subsidiary of SK Biopharmaceuticals (search) Co., Ltd., continues to advance innovative treatments for central nervous system disorders with 12 compounds currently in development.