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CompletedNCT04721691Updated Aug 28, 2026

Efficacy of Epidiolex in Patients With Electrical Status Epilepticus of Sleep (ESES).

A Phase 1 interventional study of Epidiolex 100 mg/mL Oral Solution and Placebo in Electrical Status Epilepticus of Slow-Wave Sleep, sponsored by Northwell Health. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 2 Years to 17 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-28.

Sponsored by Northwell Health · Phase 1, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Primary completion was Jan 2024, 2 years 8 months ago, and no results have been posted to the registry.
Phase
Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
16
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
2 Years to 17 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This study aims to assess the efficacy of Epidiolex in patients with ESES. ESES is characterized by sleep potentiated spikes with a spike index greater than 85% (conventional definition) and 50% (new definition)1. Several drugs including: steroids, intravenous Gama globulin, Clobazam, other benzodiazepines, Valproic acid, and other anti-epileptic drugs have been tried with mixed benefits2,3. Cannabidiol (CBD) would provide a novel mechanism of action to assess for its efficacy in this population. This will be a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial.

Read the detailed description

This study attempts to view the effect of Epidiolex on subjects with Electrical Status Epilepticus of Sleep (ESES). ESES can cause various types of seizures which can fluctuate during sleep. Similar studies have been conducted with Epidiolex with other seizure disorders such as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) and Dravet Syndrome. Since there is no data available on the effect of Cannabidiol (CBD) on patients with ESES, this study hopes to fill that void. As such, patients that have been diagnosed with ESES will be eligible to participate in this study to ascertain whether or not Epidiolex can reduce the frequency or intensity of the seizures brought on by ESES during sleep.

02

Conditions studied

  • Electrical Status Epilepticus of Slow-Wave Sleep

Keywords

  • Neurology
  • Pediatric
  • ESES
03

In context

Lead sponsor

Northwell Health is the lead sponsor of 463 studies on the registry; 109 are open to participants now.

Of its 40 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 20 (50%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
2 Years to 17 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Eligibility criteria

In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

  1. Provision of signed and dated informed consent form
  2. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study
  3. Male or female, aged 2-17 years old
  4. In good general health as evidenced by medical history or diagnosed with ESES. "Good health" in relation to this study is understood as stable without current seizures requiring immediate hospitalization.
  5. Ability to take oral medication and be willing to adhere to the Epidiolex/Placebo regimen
  6. For females of reproductive potential: use of highly effective contraception for at least 1 month prior to screening and agreement to use such a method during study participation and for an additional 1 month after the end of oral Epidiolex administration
  7. For males of reproductive potential: use of condoms or other methods to ensure effective contraception with partner

Exclusion Criteria:An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

  1. Previous use of cannabidiol within 4 months.
  2. Pregnancy or lactation
  3. Known allergic reactions to components of the Epidiolex: cannabidiol, sesame seed oil, and sucralose
  4. Febrile illness within 1 month of screening
  5. Treatment with another investigational drug or other intervention within 6 months
  6. Current smoker or tobacco use within 6 months
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 1
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Crossover assignment
Masking
Double (Participant, Investigator)
Enrollment
16 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    IP

    Epidiolex (Cannabidiol) is a colorless to yellow solution in a 100mL vial that is to be administered with a 5mL syringe.The starting dosage is 2.5 mg/kg twice daily, or 5 mg/kg/day. After one week, the dosage can be increased to a maintenance dosage of 5mg/kg twice daily, or 10 mg/kg/day. Patients who are tolerating Epidiolex at 10mg/kg per day and require further reduction of seizures may benefit from a dosage increase up to a maximum recommended maintenance. Dosage of 10mg/kg twice daily (20mg/kg/day), in weekly increments of 2.5 mg/kg twice daily(5mg/kg/day), as tolerated. For patients in whom a more rapid titration from 10 mg/kg/day to 20 mg/kg/day is warranted, the dosage may be increased to no more frequently than every other day administration of the 20 mg/kg/day. Dosage resulted in somewhat greater reductions in seizure rates than the recommended maintenance dosage of 10 mg/kg/day, but with an increase in adverse reactions.

    Drug: Epidiolex 100 mg/mL Oral Solution

  • Placebo comparator
    Placebo

    Placebo is a colorless to yellow solution in a 100mL vial that is to be administered with a 5mL syringe. The starting dosage is 2.5 mg/kg twice daily, or 5 mg/kg/day. After one week, the dosage can be increased to a maintenance dosage of 5mg/kg twice daily, or 10 mg/kg/day. Patients who are tolerating Placebo at 10mg/kg per day and require further reduction of seizures may benefit from a dosage increase up to a maximum recommended maintenance. Dosage of 10mg/kg twice daily (20mg/kg/day), in weekly increments of 2.5 mg/kg twice daily(5mg/kg/day), as tolerated. For patients in whom a more rapid titration from 10 mg/kg/day to 20 mg/kg/day is warranted, the dosage may be increased to no more frequently than every other day administration of the 20 mg/kg/day. Dosage resulted in somewhat greater reductions in seizure rates than the recommended maintenance dosage of 10 mg/kg/day, but with an increase in adverse reactions.

    Other: Placebo

Interventions

  • DrugEpidiolex 100 mg/mL Oral Solution

    Epidiolex is a schedule 5 controlled substance that is a colorless to yellow oral liquid solution that is prepackaged into 100mL vials with 5mL syringes for use. It is typically used for the treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) or Dravet Syndrome in patients 2 years of age and older.

  • OtherPlacebo

    Placebo is composed of dehydrated alcohol, sesame seed oil, strawberry flavor, and sucralose.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Frequency of Spike Wave Index

    Assess the reduction in spike wave index by evaluating the differences in activity from the four 24-hour ambulatory EEGs each participant obtains while enrolled in this study

    Time frame: Up to 20 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Likert Scale Assessment

    The secondary objective is to assess seizure counts and subjective behavior change on a 5 point Likert scale (1= no improvement, 2= some improvement, 3=moderate improvement, 4=significant improvement, 5=extreme improvement).

    Time frame: Up to 20 weeks

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Northwell Health
    Lake Success, New York 11042, United States
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 28, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04721691
Lead sponsor
Northwell Health
Collaborators
Jazz Pharmaceuticals
Responsible party
Sanjeev Vithal Kothare (Director, Service Line Chief of Child Neurology, Northwell Health) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jan 25, 2021
Start date
Mar 10, 2021
Primary completion
Jan 17, 2024
Completion
Jan 17, 2024
Last update
Aug 28, 2026

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in May 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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