Network pharmacology and epilepsy

Abstract

In contrast with the reductionist “one gene, one target, one drug” approach, network pharmacology proposes the use of multi-target therapies, a strategy that seems particularly suitable to treat disorders of complex etiology, among them epilepsy. As a matter of fact, most of the existing antiepileptic drugs are indeed multi-target unintended agents. Whereas a number of authors have recently advocated the use of network-based approximations in the antiepileptic drug discovery fi eld, such strategy has so far not produced deliverables. Here, we review some practical considerations which could be used to assist in silico and wet screening for novel antiepileptic agents.