Hyderabad: Renowned neurologist and epileptologist Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui has urged an urgent shift in epilepsy treatment in Pakistan, emphasizing the need for modern therapies to address the country's treatment gap. Speaking at a Specialized Neurology Seminar, she presented data from the BRAVO clinical trial, underlining the need for targeted, newer anti-seizure medications.

According to Aafia Movement: Dr. Siddiqui highlighted the significant epilepsy treatment gap affecting 70 to 80 percent of patients in Pakistan, especially in rural areas. She noted the limitations of older medications, which often lead to severe side effects and treatment abandonment. Dr. Siddiqui stressed the importance of protecting patients' quality of life with third-generation molecules suited to local conditions.

The BRAVO trial, led by Dr. Siddiqui, was conducted across 18 clinical sites and involved 543 patients. The study demonstrated Brivaracetam's efficacy, with 63.1 percent of patients experiencing a reduction in seizure frequency by day 90 and 36.8 percent achieving complete seizure freedom. The medication showed better tolerability with fewer side effects compared to older treatments.

Dr. Siddiqui concluded with a call to action for local healthcare providers to adopt updated treatment protocols, supported by localized studies like the BRAVO trial. The seminar included discussions on integrating these advancements into clinical practice, with contributions from several esteemed medical professionals.