MDA has awarded a human clinical trial grant totaling $750,000 to ALS ONE to explore the potential for a type of imaging called positron emission tomography (PET) to measure inflammation in the brain that could serve as a biomarker for ALS. ALS ONE is an alliance between four institutional leaders in ALS treatment development: Massachusetts . . .
MDA has announced the award of 13 new grants totaling $2.6 million as part of its continued commitment to finding treatments and cures for the diseases in its program. Each of the 13 new grants funds a project that aims to increase our understanding of the causes or underlying mechanisms of neuromuscular disease or potential . . .
A phase 1 trial to test omigapil in congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD) conducted at the National Institutes of Health is complete and data indicate it met its primary objective. Results from the trial, also known as CALLISTO, show a favorable pharmacokinetic profile of omigapil and demonstrated that the drug was safe and well-tolerated in children and . . .
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals has submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the investigational drug amifampridine phosphate (brand name Firdapse) for the treatment of people with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS). The FDA has 60 days to determine whether the NDA is complete and acceptable for filing. If the FDA . . .
The Tuesday afternoon sessions of MDA’s 2018 Clinical Conference focused on best practices in newborn screening. Augmentative communication, pediatric-to-adult transition, respiratory health and care coordination also were covered in parallel sessions. Among the highlights: Newborn screening R. Rodney Howell, M.D., from the Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, talked about the history of newborn . . .
On Tuesday morning, MDA’s 2018 Clinical Conference sessions focused on best practices in cardiac care, physical therapy, bone health, technology and nutrition. Among the highlights: Cardiac management for the muscular dystrophy lifespan Elizabeth McNally, M.D., Ph.D., from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, noted that to best manage the heart in neuromuscular disease, a genetic . . .
Monday’s afternoon sessions at MDA’s 2018 Clinical Conference focused on advances in personalized medicine, including the latest in precision therapies, genomics, digital health and MDA’s MOVR initiative. Among the highlights: Correction of Duchenne muscular dystrophy by genome editing Leonela Amoasii, Ph.D., from UT Southwestern Medical Center, discussed a vision for gene editing in DMD. The . . .
Monday’s morning sessions at MDA’s 2018 Clinical Conference focused on what’s new in ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), myotonic dystrophy (DM) and myasthenia gravis (MG). Among the highlights: ALS James D. Berry, M.D., M.P.H., from Massachusetts General Hospital, noted that, “The really profound answer to what’s new in . . .
Solid Biosciences has announced that the first patient to be treated in its phase 1/2 clinical trial to test SGT-001, the company’s experimental gene therapy treatment for DMD, experienced a serious safety issue that was not among what was predicted based on what is known about the therapy — known as a Suspected Unexpected Serious . . .
Researchers are looking for children and adults with congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) to participate in a phase 3 study being conducted by Catalyst Pharmaceuticals to test the experimental drug amifampridine phosphate (brand name Firdapse).
