Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases in the world; around 50 million people are living with it today.1 Epilepsy is characterized by the occurrence of at least two unprovoked seizures occurring more than 24 hours apart or by one unprovoked seizure with a high probability of further seizures. There is a large unmet patient need – of the 3 million adults and 456,000 children living with epilepsy in the U.S., approximately 1 million adults and up to 114,000 pediatric patients are resistant to current treatments.2,3
At Jazz, we understand the profound impact epilepsy can have on patients and their families, which is why we are committed to raising awareness of severe epilepsy syndromes, including Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), Dravet syndrome (DS) and tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Epilepsy syndromes are defined by a collection of signs and symptoms in addition to epilepsy characterized by specific seizure types, distinct electroencephalography patterns, and accompanied by comorbid behavioral and neuropsychiatric conditions, and in some cases, identifiable genetic mutations.4
The frequently treatment-resistant seizures associated with LGS, DS, and TSC can impact children’s cognitive, executive, and emotional function, and can cause language setbacks, sleep problems, attention deficit disorder, and diminished physical function. Not only do these symptoms impact patient quality of life, but they also have significant, life-altering implications for their families and caregivers. Family members often must either leave the workforce or hire caregiving professionals to assist with around-the-clock care.
We strive to ensure that our research not only addresses the challenging neurological effects of these conditions but also incorporates the lived experiences and real-world impact that they have on caregivers. Through our ongoing partnerships with advocacy organizations, such as the Epilepsy Foundation, and healthcare professionals, we aim to create more opportunities to understand and potentially alleviate the impact that caregivers face in providing essential support and care.
At Jazz, our research and development teams use their expertise to lead clinical programs across epilepsy that provide a deeper understanding of the disease. We remain committed to fulfilling our responsibility to develop new medicines for rare, treatment-resistant epileptic conditions because all people, particularly those with difficult, complex diseases, deserve to live their lives as fully as possible.
November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month, a milestone that allows us to pause and reflect on both the progress the community has made for people living with epilepsy and their continued unmet needs. This time of reflection is especially important for people diagnosed with rare forms of epilepsy, as well as their caregivers, who provide essential support and care to their loved ones.
1. World Health Organization. Epilepsy. 7 February 2024. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/epilepsy. Accessed: November 2025.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Epilepsy Facts and Stats. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/epilepsy/data-research/facts-stats/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/epilepsy/data/index.html. Accessed: November 2025.
3. Epilepsy Foundation. Drug-Resistant Epilepsy. Available at: https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/drug-resistant-epilepsy. Accessed: November 2025.
4. Epilepsy Foundation. Types of Epilepsy Syndromes. Available at: https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/types-epilepsy-syndromes
