Suspended

EPIKA Phase 3 Study of Adjunctive XEN496 in Pediatric Subjects With KCNQ2 Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy

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What is being tested

XEN496

+ Placebo

Drug
Who is being recruted

Epileptic Syndromes+8

+ Brain Diseases

+ Central Nervous System Diseases

From 1 Months to 6 Years
See all eligibility criteria
How is the trial designed

Treatment Study

Placebo-ControlledPhase 3
Interventional
Study Start: March 2021
See protocol details

Summary

Principal SponsorXenon Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Last updated: January 28, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Study start date: March 29, 2021

Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.

The EPIK Phase 3 clinical trial is designed as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study targeting to enroll approximately 40 pediatric subjects (aged from 1 month to less than 6 years) with documented genetic evidence consistent with a diagnosis of KCNQ2 Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy (KCNQ2-DEE). After screening, subjects will enter a baseline period before being randomized to receive either XEN496 (ezogabine) or placebo, added to their existing antiseizure medications (ASMs), for 12 weeks (maintenance), once a titration period of up to 24 days is complete. At the end of the maintenance phase, eligible subjects will have the opportunity to qualify for and participate in the separate open-label extension (OLE) study and receive XEN496 or, should they choose to exit the study, will undergo a dose taper period of up to 15 days and 4-week follow-up.

Official TitleA Phase 3 Study of Adjunctive XEN496 in Pediatric Subjects With KCNQ2 Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy
NCT04639310
Principal SponsorXenon Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Last updated: January 28, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Protocol

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.
Design Details

8 patients to be enrolled

Total number of participants that the clinical trial aims to recruit.

Treatment Study

These studies test new ways to treat a disease, condition, or health issue. The goal is to see if a new drug, therapy, or approach works better or has fewer side effects than existing options.



Eligibility

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.
Conditions
Criteria

Any sex

Biological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.

From 1 Months to 6 Years

Range of ages for which participants are eligible to join.

Healthy volunteers not allowed

If individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.

Conditions

Pathology

Epileptic SyndromesBrain DiseasesCentral Nervous System DiseasesDiseaseEpilepsyNervous System DiseasesNeurologic ManifestationsPathologic ProcessesSeizuresSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Male or female subjects aged from 1 month to less than 6 years, with a body weight of ≥3.0 kg at screening. * Documented evidence of a genetic test result from an appropriately accredited laboratory, consistent with a diagnosis of KCNQ2-DEE (pathogenic, likely pathogenic, variant of unknown significance, or inconclusive but unlikely to support an alternate diagnosis). * Seizure onset within 2 weeks after birth and EEG and documented clinical history consistent with KCNQ2-DEE. * Magnetic resonance imaging has been performed and is without evidence of structural abnormalities, including but not limited to, hypoxia, hypoxia-ischemia, ischemia (arterial or venous), stroke, sinovenous thrombosis, intracranial hemorrhage, or focal or global brain malformation. Brain MRI changes that are described as being associated with the KCNQ2-DEE and presumed to be secondary to the disease itself, will not be exclusionary. * Must have had focal tonic or other countable motor seizures in the 28 days prior to screening. * Taking 1 and no more than 4 concomitant antiseizure medications (ASMs). All doses must be stable for at least 1 week prior to screening and expected to be maintained throughout the duration of the study. * Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) is allowed and will not be counted as a concomitant ASM. The VNS device must be implanted for at least 6 months before screening, and the device settings must be stable for at least 6 weeks prior to screening and throughout the duration of the study. Use of the VNS device magnet is allowed. * Ketogenic diet is allowed and will not be counted as a concomitant ASM. Must must be on a stable dietary regimen that produces ketosis for at least 6 weeks prior to screening, and expected to be maintained throughout the study. * Additional inclusion criteria apply, and will be assessed by the study team. Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of a pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant in an additional gene associated with other epilepsy syndromes. (Variants in other epilepsy-associated genes that are not known to be pathogenic or are not likely to be pathogenic based upon adjudication review will not be a basis for exclusion.) * Presence of a known gain-of-function variant in the KCNQ2 gene, or clinical characteristics consistent with previously reported pathogenic gain-of-function variants in the KCNQ2 gene. * Seizures secondary to infection, neoplasia, demyelinating disease, degenerative neurological disease, or Central nervous system (CNS) disease deemed progressive, metabolic illness, or progressive degenerative disease. * Confirmed diagnosis of infantile spasms within the past month prior to screening. * History or presence of any significant medical or surgical condition or uncontrolled medical illness at screening including, but not limited to, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, hematologic, hepatic, ocular, pulmonary, renal, or urogenital systems, or other conditions that would not justify the subject's participation in the study, as determined by the investigator's risk benefit assessment. * QT interval corrected for heart rate by Fridericia's formula (QTcF) of \>440 msec. In addition, subjects with a history of arrhythmia, prolonged QT, heart disease or subjects taking medications known to increase the QT interval. * History of hyperbilirubinemia, which lasts longer than 1 week will require exclusion of hepatic disease before entering the study. * History of bilirubin-induced neurological dysfunction. * Current disturbance of micturition or known urinary obstructions or history of bladder or urinary dysfunction including abnormal post-void residual bladder ultrasound, vesicoureteral reflux, urinary retention, or required urinary catheterization in the preceding 6 months. * Known to have a terminal illness. * Any clinically significant laboratory abnormalities or clinically significant abnormalities on pre-study physical examination, vital signs, or ECG that in the judgment of the investigator indicates a medical problem that would preclude study participation. * Planned to begin a ketogenic or other specialized dietary therapy during the study. * Caregiver history of chronic noncompliance with their child's prescribed drug regimens that has not been corrected. * Exposure to any other investigational drug or device within 5 half-lives or 30 days prior to screening, whichever is longer or plans to participate in another drug or device trial at any time during the study. * Concurrent enrollment in any other type of medical research judged by the investigator not to be scientifically or medically compatible with this study. * Using felbamate presenting with clinically significant abnormalities and/or hepatic dysfunction during felbamate treatment, and subjects who have taken felbamate for less than 6 months prior to screening. * Currently taking adrenocorticotropic hormone. * Did not tolerate ezogabine when taken previously. * Subjects with a known hypersensitivity to ezogabine or any of the excipients in the study drug. * Other exclusion criteria apply, and will be assessed by the study team.

Study Plan

Find out more about all the medication administered in this study, their detailed description and what they involve.
Treatment Groups
Study Objectives

2 intervention groups are designated in this study

50% chance of being blinded to the placebo group

Treatment Groups

Group I

Experimental
24-day dose titration period to a top dose of 21 mg/kg/day. Subjects continue at the top dose, or the highest tolerated dose up to the top dose, for 12-week maintenance period. If the subject does not immediately enter into the separate open-label extension (OLE) study, the maintenance period will be followed by a 15-day taper period.

Group II

Placebo
To maintain the blinded aspect of the study, subjects will be titrated on placebo over the 24-day period and remain at this dose for the 12-week maintenance period. If the subject does not immediately enter into the separate OLE study, the maintenance period will be followed by a 15-day taper period.

Study Objectives

Primary Objectives

Secondary Objectives

Study Centers

These are the hospitals, clinics, or research facilities where the trial is being conducted. You can find the location closest to you and its status.

This study has 20 locations

Suspended

Children's Hospital of Orange County

Orange, United StatesOpen Children's Hospital of Orange County in Google Maps
Suspended

UCSF Medical Center

San Francisco, United States
Suspended

Children's Hospital of Colorado

Aurora, United States
Suspended

Children's National Health System

Washington D.C., United States
Suspended20 Study Centers