The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval to Athena Neurosciences, a subsidiary of Elan, to market Diastat, a rectal gel used to treat certain severe epileptics. The FDA had previously granted the company, Orphan Drug, status for Diastet, providing seven years of marketing exclusivity. The gel, a diazepam formulation, controls bouts of increased seizure activity which can otherwise lead to injury, brain damage or death.