FDA Accepts Sarepta Therapeutics’ New Drug Application (NDA) for Golodirsen to Treat DMD Amenable to Exon 53 Skipping

On Feb. 14, Sarepta Therapeutics announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted its New Drug Application (NDA) seeking approval under Priority Review for golodirsen (SRP-4053), its drug candidate for treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in patients amenable to skipping exon 53. Priority Review status requires the FDA to review the application and . . .

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CMTA and MDA Co-Fund Proof-of-Concept Study Using AAV Vector to Deliver Gene Replacement Therapy in X-linked Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease

On Mar. 1, the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association (CMTA) and the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) announced that they have jointly awarded a research grant totaling $276,430 over three years to Kleopas Kleopa, M.D., professor and senior consulting neurologist at the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Cyprus School of Molecular Medicine, in Nicosia, Cyprus. Dr. Kleopa is . . .

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MDA Releases New DMD Fact Sheet During Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Week

Feb. 13-18, as established by MDA’s colleagues at Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), is Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Week, when we recognize both the individuals and families impacted by Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and the continuing need for innovative treatments — and, one day, a cure — for this disease. In honor of the week, . . .

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Long-Term Results of Extension Study Validate Surgery as a Treatment for Myasthenia Gravis

Results of an extension study following an MDA-supported clinical trial showed that surgical removal of the thymus in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) offered benefits for as long as five years after surgery. The original clinical trial, which was extended for two years, showed patients who had the thymus removed had reduced muscle weakness and . . .

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Trexo Robotics Releases Trexo Home Walking Aid for Children

Joining a growing number of companies developing robotic devices for those living with mobility impairments, Ontario’s Trexo Robotics just launched the newest in its line of robotic walking aids specifically for children, the Trexo Home. Unlike the company’s Trexo Plus, a set of wearable robotic legs that attach to a walker for use in clinical . . .

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Arkansas to Screen Babies for SMA

This week, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed into law a bill, HB 1074, that requires the state to add spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) to its newborn screening panel. SMA is the No. 1 genetic cause of death in infants, affecting approximately 1 in 10,000 babies. MDA was proud to advocate for the addition of SMA . . .

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Elizabethtown College Seeks Young Adults With CMT for Survey About Social Life

Young adults living with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease: You can help in a new study. Allison Eveler, a senior occupational therapy major at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania, is conducting an undergraduate research study to determine the impacts of CMT on the social participation of young adults. Allison, who herself lives with CMT, recognized a need for research . . .

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Catalyst Pharmaceuticals Announces Positive Results from Phase 2b Trial of Firdapse in Patients with Muscle-Specific Kinase Antibody Positive Myasthenia Gravis (MuSK-MG)

On Jan. 4, Italian researchers published positive results in the journal SAGE Open Medicine of a Phase 2b clinical trial (MSK-001) evaluating Firdapse (amifampridine phosphate) for treating MuSK antibody positive myasthenia gravis (MuSK-MG). Their results showed the drug to be safe and effective in treating patients with this rare disease. The study was partially funded . . .

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FDA Awards Fast Track Status to RNS60, Revalesio’s Investigational Therapy for ALS

On Jan. 4, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Fast Track designation to Tacoma, Wash.-based Revalesio Corporation’s experimental drug for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), RNS60.   Fast Track status helps to shorten the time it takes to develop and approve a drug that’s been designed to treat a serious condition and fill an unmet . . .

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