Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. provided a corporate update and outlined its anticipated key milestone events in 2019. XEN496 (active ingredient ezogabine) is a Kv7 potassium channel modulator being developed for the treatment of KCNQ2 epileptic encephalopathy (KCNQ2-EE). Ezogabine was previously approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as an anti-epileptic drug (AED) as an adjunctive treatment for adults with focal seizures with or without secondary generalization. Xenon received orphan drug designation (ODD) from the FDA for XEN496 as a treatment of KCNQ2-EE. A steering committee made up of key opinion leaders in the KCNQ2-EE and pediatric epilepsy fields has been established to help guide the clinical development of XEN496. In response to Xenon’s pre-IND briefing package submission, the FDA indicated that it was acceptable to study XEN496 in infants and children up to 4 years old, and that a single pivotal trial in approximately 20 patients may be considered adequate in order to demonstrate XEN496’s efficacy in KCNQ2-EE. Xenon is currently finalizing a pediatric-specific formulation to complete pre-clinical formulation testing with a final drug product expected in the second quarter of 2019. Xenon expects to file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application in the third quarter of 2019, and, based on regulatory feedback, Xenon expects to initiate a Phase 3 clinical trial thereafter. XEN1101 is a Kv7 potassium channel modulator being developed for the treatment of epilepsy and potentially other neurological disorders. Xenon announced final data from its XEN1101 Phase 1 clinical trial and the related transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) studies at the American Epilepsy Society (AES) Annual Meeting in December 2018. Based on the encouraging Phase 1 data and TMS results, Xenon has initiated a Phase 2b clinical trial in adult patients with focal epilepsy. A Clinical Trial Application (CTA) has been accepted by Health Canada enabling the start of patient screening, and the first patient in the XEN1101 Phase 2b clinical trial is expected to be enrolled in the near term. Xenon has also submitted regulatory filings to support the clinical development of XEN1101 in other jurisdictions, including the United States and Europe. The XEN1101 Phase 2 clinical trial is designed as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study to evaluate the clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability of XEN1101 administered as adjunctive treatment in adult patients with focal epilepsy. Approximately 300 patients will be randomized in a blinded manner to one of three active treatment groups or placebo in a 2:1:1:2 fashion (XEN1101 25 mg: 20 mg: 10 mg: Placebo). The primary endpoint is the median percent change in monthly focal seizure frequency from baseline compared to treatment period of active versus placebo. Depending upon the rate of enrollment, top-line results from the XEN1101 Phase 2 clinical trial are anticipated in the second half of 2020. XEN901 is a potent, highly selective Nav1.6 sodium channel inhibitor being developed for the treatment of epilepsy. Xenon announced interim results from its XEN901 Phase 1 clinical trial and the related pilot TMS study at the AES Annual Meeting in December 2018. The next steps for XEN901 include completing the Phase 1 clinical trial and continued planning for Phase 2 clinical development evaluating XEN901 as a treatment for adult focal seizures or for rare, pediatric forms of epilepsy, including SCN8A gain-of-function epilepsy patients, depending on feedback from planned discussions with regulatory agencies. Xenon expects to receive regulatory feedback on advancing XEN901 directly into pediatric SCN8A gain-of-function epilepsy patients in the second quarter of 2019, and pediatric formulation development and juvenile toxicology studies are underway. XEN007 (active ingredient flunarizine) is a CNS-acting calcium channel inhibitor that directly modulates the Cav2.1 channel. Flunarizine has been used outside of the U.S. in the prevention of chronic migraine, and in case studies, it has been reported to have clinical benefit in other neurological disorders, including hemiplegic migraine (HM) and alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC). Xenon has received ODD from the FDA for XEN007 for the treatment of HM and AHC. In addition, Xenon entered into key agreements in order to access regulatory files and manufacturing support to potentially enable an accelerated clinical development of XEN007 directly into a Phase 2 clinical trial. Xenon is currently evaluating various development strategies for XEN007, including the support of at least one Phase 2 clinical trial in an orphan neurological indication.