Lundbeck to Present New Data on Bexicaserin at European Epilepsy Congress

Lundbeck, a biopharmaceutical company focused on brain health, will present new preclinical data on the dual mode of action of bexicaserin at the European Epilepsy Congress in Athens, Greece, from September 5 to 9, 2026. The data highlight bexicaserin's potential for broad-spectrum antiseizure activity in various types of seizures, including focal, generalized motor, and absence seizures.

According to preclinical studies, bexicaserin increases inhibitory and decreases excitatory neuronal activity, which could offer a promising approach for treating seizures associated with Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies (DEEs). DEEs are a diverse group of rare and serious epilepsies characterized by treatment-resistant seizures, frequent epileptiform activity, and developmental delays or regression.

"These findings underscore the scientific rationale for bexicaserin's dual mode of action and its potential as a new treatment option for people living with DEEs," said Tarek Samad, Executive Vice President and Head of Research & Development at Lundbeck. "DEEs are rare, serious, and highly heterogeneous, and there is a critical need for new treatment approaches."

Bexicaserin, an investigational, oral, highly-selective superagonist of the 5-HT2c receptor, is currently being evaluated in the global Phase III DEEp Program for the treatment of seizures associated with DEEs. The program includes DEEp OCEAN, which is evaluating bexicaserin in children and adults with DEEs, including Lennox, Gastaut syndrome, and DEEp SEA, which is assessing its efficacy in Dravet syndrome.

In preclinical models, bexicaserin demonstrated broad-spectrum antiseizure activity by increasing inhibitory and decreasing excitatory neuronal activity in hippocampal brain tissue. This mechanism is consistent with the reduction in seizures seen in various types of DEEs, suggesting that bexicaserin may offer a new therapeutic approach for a wide range of underlying causes.

Lundbeck will present additional clinical and preclinical research from the broader development program, which includes the DEEp OCEAN and DEEp SEA trials. DEEp OCEAN is a Phase III interventional, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial evaluating bexicaserin in children and adults with DEEs. DEEp SEA is a similar trial focusing on Dravet syndrome.

Bexicaserin, also known as LP352, is an oral, centrally acting 5-hydroxytryptamine 2C (5-HT2C) receptor superagonist with no engagement of the 5-HT2B and 5-HT2A receptor subtypes, potentially minimizing the risk of cardiovascular toxicity. Common side effects of bexicaserin include somnolence, decreased appetite, constipation, diarrhea, lethargy, tremor, urinary tract infection, fatigue, pyrexia, agitation, and hypertension.

"The upcoming presentations at the European Epilepsy Congress will provide a deeper understanding of bexicaserin's mechanism of action and its potential as a novel treatment for DEEs," Samad said. "We are committed to advancing our research and development programs to address the unmet needs of people living with these complex conditions."

Lundbeck's commitment to advancing brain health and improving the lives of people with neurological and psychiatric diseases is reflected in its ongoing efforts to develop innovative therapies for rare and complex neurological challenges.