Child Neurology Foundation and Eisai Announce New Transitions of Care Resources for Young People Living with Epilepsy

Tools now available to help adolescents with epilepsy transition to the adult health care system underscoring Eisai's leadership and commitment to the epilepsy community

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Eisai Inc.

Dec 05, 2017, 12:28 ET

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., Dec. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Child Neurology Foundation (CNF) and Eisai today announced the availability of original resources aimed at helping those living with epilepsy navigate and simplify the transition from their pediatric neurology team to their adult neurology team. This transitional period often correlates with both a documented decline in health status and a lack of health care continuity. Examples of decline in health status for people with epilepsy can include uncontrolled seizures which can increase the risk of injury, anxiety, depression and in rare cases death (sometimes caused by SUDEP or Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy). Until now, people living with epilepsy had little guidance on how to achieve a successful transition. The new Transitions of Care resources include a video featuring experts who have experienced a successful transition and an interactive infographic that provides actionable steps with links to other helpful tools that educate patients and caregivers while guiding them through a clear and predictable transition process. These informative new resources were unveiled at the American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting taking place December 1 - 5 in Washington, DC.

The new Transitions of Care resources are part of a partnership between CNF and Eisai, which started in 2014 with the development of a consensus statement addressing the role of the neurologist in transitioning adolescents into the adult health care system, which was published in Neurology last summer. The statement includes eight common principles that define expectations, advise on timing and assign roles to plan for and enable a successful transition. The resources Eisai co-developed are based on the original eight principles and are tailored specifically for those living with epilepsy.

"We've heard from so many in our community – clinicians, families and patients – about the need for better guidance on how to transition young adults to adult care," said Amy Brin Miller, Executive Director, CNF. "Now, with these new practical resources designed to help initiate and guide the process early, adolescents, their families and their health care teams can work together for success."

"Until now, young people living with epilepsy, their families and physicians had very few tools necessary to successfully navigate the transition from pediatric to adult neurology care. Conversations were infrequent and there were few resources available to help guide a family through the necessary steps," said Timothy Clark, Senior Director of Government Affairs, Policy and Corporate Advocacy, Eisai Inc. "These CNF and Eisai resources can help young patients and their families to take control of their transition earlier, empowering them to fully participate in their health care journey by facilitating an open and ongoing dialogue with their care teams."

The American Epilepsy Society collaborated on these materials to help support gaps that can occur in transitions of care. "As neurologists treating young patients with epilepsy we know how important it is for them and their caregivers to prepare for a smooth transition to adult care and experience all of the steps that make it successful," said Eli M. Mizrahi, MD, Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine and President of the American Epilepsy Society. "There can be bumps along the way but now, with these tools, they, along with their health care providers, can feel more empowered to better navigate the path forward toward adult care."

CNF has developed additional core educational tools, including transitions policy, checklists, self-care assessments, plans of care, medical summaries and more for the larger neurology community based on the consensus statement. Eisai is the sustaining sponsor of these materials as part of the company's multi-year partnership with CNF. For more information about the epilepsy-specific resources and the transitions consensus statement, please visit www.childneurologyfoundation.org/transitions or www.advancingepilepsycare.com.

About the Consensus Statement
The consensus statement was developed to address the role of the neurologist in transitioning children to the adult health care system. The content, which was solely developed by the Child Neurology Foundation, included input from an independent panel of 14 multidisciplinary experts based on a review of research literature and expert opinion. The recommendations were endorsed by the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), Child Neurology Society (CNS) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the American Epilepsy Society (AES). The project was co-sponsored by Eisai Inc.

The consensus statement includes a neurology-specific review of literature and discussion, common principle recommendations about responsibilities of the child and adult neurologist, discussion of co-management between primary care providers and specialists, as well as five disease-specific vignettes illustrating implementation of the core principles. The five neurological disease states featured in the report's vignettes are generalized epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, fragile X, tuberous sclerosis complex and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

About Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a medical condition that produces seizures affecting a variety of mental and physical functions. According to the Institute of Medicine, epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders, which affects about 3.4 million people in the United States. Partial-onset seizures are the most common type of seizure seen in people with epilepsy, accounting for 60 percent of all seizures. Generalized seizures account for approximately 40 percent of all epilepsy, with primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures being one of the most common and severe forms of generalized seizures.

About Child Neurology Foundation
Established in 2001, the Child Neurology Foundation (CNF) is a national nonprofit organization 501(c)(3) that is committed to serving as a collaborative center of education and support for children and families living with neurologic conditions.

For more information on the CNF, please visit www.childneurologyfoundation.org.

About Eisai Inc.
At Eisai Inc., human health care (hhc) is our goal. We give our first thoughts to patients and their families, and helping to increase the benefits health care provides. As the U.S. pharmaceutical subsidiary of Tokyo-based Eisai Co., Ltd., we have a passionate commitment to patient care that is the driving force behind our efforts to discover and develop innovative therapies to help address unmet medical needs.

Eisai is a fully integrated pharmaceutical business that operates in two global business groups: oncology and neurology (dementia-related diseases and neurodegenerative diseases). Each group functions as an end-to-end global business with discovery, development, and marketing capabilities. Our U.S. headquarters, commercial and clinical development organizations are located in New Jersey; our discovery labs are in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania; and our global demand chain organization resides in Maryland and North Carolina. To learn more about Eisai Inc., please visit us at www.eisai.com/US.