Neurostimulation Device for Drug-Resistant Focal Epilepsy Demonstrates Significant, Long-Term Reductions in Seizures

Three-year data from a post-approval study (PAS; NCT02403843) of the NeuroPace Responsive Neurostimulation (RNS) System (Mountain View, CA) demonstrated significant and sustained reductions in seizures in adults with drug-resistant focal epilepsy (DRE). The results of the PAS presented at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) 2025 Annual Meeting revealed a >80% median reduction in seizures for RNS System–treated participants.

The RNS System is a brain-responsive neurostimulation device designed to detect and respond to abnormal electrical activity at the seizure focus. In the prospective, multicenter, post-approval study, 324 adult participants with DRE from 32 centers across the United States are receiving treatment with the RNS System. The results presented at the AAN 2025 Annual Meeting comprise 3-year data from an analysis of the device’s effectiveness.

Key findings include the following:

• Participants showed a median seizure reduction of 62% and 82% at 6 months and 3 years, respectively.
• 42% of participants achieved seizure freedom for 6 months or more.
• One-third of participants did not require intracranial EEG monitoring during the study.

In response to the new findings, Chief Medical Officer at NeuroPace, Martha Morrell, MD, commented, “These results presented at AAN add to the growing body of evidence that demonstrates consistency in the power of combining neurostimulation with long-term direct brain data to provide seizure control for people who live with DRE.”