BioEP for prognosis: A quantitative biomarker for measuring response to anti-seizure medications

In this project Neuronostics will demonstrate how computer analysis can reveal important information about treatment response for people with epilepsy. At present when someone is told they have epilepsy, they start taking drugs. However, we have no way of knowing whether or not they will continue to have seizures, accept by waiting to see. This is unpleasant for the person and exposes them to risk. The more seizures they have, the poorer their overall outcomes.

To address this challenge Neuronostics have generated a tool that can indicate how likely someone is to have active epilepsy. The tool, called BioEP, uses computer algorithms to analyse electrical activity of the brain that doctors record using a device called an EEG machine. In this project Neuronostics will work with 4 hospitals in the UK to understand what happens to the BioEP rating when people with epilepsy start taking drugs. In an early study Neuronostics have shown that the BioEP rating reduces in cases where the treatment works, but does not change in cases where treatment fails. This project will conduct a clinical study to confirm these early findings. Alongside the study, Neuronostics will use the data generated to update their computer tool, to engage with doctors to understand how they would use the tool in clinic and to undertake activities necessary to regulate the tool for use to measure treatment response.

If the project is successful, Neuronostics anticipate the tool being available for clinical use by mid 2028, resulting in thousands of people in the UK having access to information that will confirm if their treatment is working.