Last Updated on April 7, 2026 by Staff

A warm welcome

On April 6 2026, SK Life Science announced that it will share new findings at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) meeting later this month in Chicago. The company plans to unveil results from clinical and real‑world studies of its antiseizure medication cenobamate and a survey called “Hope, Hesitancy, and Hard Truths” that looks at how people with epilepsy and the professionals who treat them talk about seizures and treatment. In this article we’ll unpack what the announcement means, why communication is so important in epilepsy care, and how this work could help people living with seizures and their families.

Unpacking the AAN meeting and the survey

The AAN annual meeting is a gathering of neurologists and researchers who share the latest advances in brain science. SK Life Science will highlight data on cenobamate at this year’s meeting, which runs from April –22 2026, and will introduce its “Hope, Hesitancy, and Hard Truths” survey【†L546-L574】. The survey includes responses from people with epilepsy as well as neurologists, epileptologists and nurse practitioners【275158454916751†L546-L574】. According to SK Life Science, the questions were developed to reveal how patients and providers discuss seizures, medication use, and treatment goals, and the methodology will be explained in detail at the conference【275158454916751†L568-L574】.

Why talking matters in epilepsy care

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterised by recurrent seizures. Roughly 3.4 million people in the United States are living with epilepsy【275158454916751†L647-L653】, and about 150,000 new cases are diagnosed each year【275158454916751†L651-L655】. These seizures can disrupt daily life, cause injuries, and lead to anxiety and depression【275158454916751†L658-L660】. While many people achieve seizure control with medication, nearly 40 percent still experience seizures despite treatment【275158454916751†L655-L656】. Honest conversations between patients and providers are therefore essential. If patients hesitate to report their experiences or clinicians assume the treatment is working, adjustments may be delayed.

Sunita Misra, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer at SK Life Science, emphasized that “Understanding how patients and healthcare providers communicate about epilepsy is essential to improving care”【275158454916751†L576-L584】. She noted that the survey’s design offers insight into the experiences of people living with epilepsy and the professionals who care for them【275158454916751†L576-L585】. By identifying where conversations break down, the company hopes to develop tools and strategies to help patients and doctors talk more openly【275158454916751†L579-L585】.

What the research covers

SK Life Science’s data at the AAN meeting spans several themes. The company is examining how healthcare resources are used after starting cenobamate, whether achieving seizure freedom reduces emergency visits, how the medication works and what side effects patients experience, and how the drug is processed by the body in different age groups【275158454916751†L591-L620】. Researchers are also looking at why some people delay epilepsy surgery, how cenobamate might influence those decisions, and how the drug performs over the long term【275158454916751†L599-L620】. Additional studies focus on adolescents and new formulations like an oral suspension to make dosing easier【275158454916751†L621-L629】.

Instead of listing each topic separately, it’s helpful to think about the overall goal: understanding cenobamate from every angle. Clinical trials and real‑world data together can show how well the medication works, who benefits the most, and how to manage side effects. Pharmacokinetic studies reveal how the drug moves through the body and help doctors adjust dosing. Research on health resource use and long‑term outcomes provides a bigger picture of how seizure control affects quality of life and healthcare costs. And by exploring the reasons why people delay or avoid surgery, researchers can better support patients facing complex decisions.

Cenobamate in context

Cenobamate is an antiseizure medication approved in the United States in 2019 for adults with focal seizures. It acts on sodium channels and enhances inhibitory neurotransmission to reduce abnormal electrical activity. In clinical trials, many patients experienced substantial seizure reductions, and some became seizure‑free. However, common side effects include drowsiness, dizziness and headaches, and not everyone responds the same. That’s why ongoing studies like those highlighted at the AAN meeting are important: they help doctors understand which patients are most likely to benefit, how to tailor dosing, and how to incorporate the medication into broader treatment plans【275158454916751†L597-L618】.

Looking ahead

SK Life Science’s announcement underscores a growing recognition that scientific data alone isn’t enough; we also need to understand the human side of epilepsy care. The “Hope, Hesitancy, and Hard Truths” survey seeks to expose communication barriers so they can be addressed. Dr. Misra’s quote captures the spirit of this work【275158454916751†L576-L585】. When patients and providers communicate openly, treatments can be adjusted more quickly, expectations can be managed more realistically, and quality of life may improve.

If you or someone you know is affected by epilepsy, these efforts might not immediately change your treatment plan, but they signal progress. By combining clinical evidence with real‑world insight and patient voices, researchers and healthcare providers are working toward a future where seizure control and quality of life go hand in hand. Keep an eye on the AAN meeting later this month for more detailed results and practical recommendations.

Conclusion

Epilepsy affects millions of people, and treatment is often a journey of trial and error. SK Life Science’s research reminds us that progress depends on both scientific breakthroughs and human connection. Better medications like cenobamate can reduce seizures, but better conversations can ensure they’re used effectively. As the epilepsy community awaits the detailed results from the AAN meeting, this announcement provides hope that both science and communication will continue to improve.