On March 9, NS Pharma Inc. (a wholly owned US subsidiary of Nippon Shinyaku Co. Ltd.) announced that it has launched an Expanded Access Program in the United States for viltolarsen, its investigational therapy for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in patients amenable to skipping exon 53. The program is open to all DMD patients . . .
Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University are seeking participants living with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2I (LGMD2I) to participate in a natural history study. This study aims to better understand disease course so researchers will be able to determine clinically meaningful outcome measures for use in future clinical trials, including the utility of dystroglycan as a biomarker. This two-year . . .
On Feb. 7, NS Pharma Inc. (a wholly owned US subsidiary of Nippon Shinyaku Co. Ltd.), announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted its New Drug Application (NDA) seeking approval under Priority Review for viltolarsen, an investigational therapy for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in patients amenable to skipping exon 53. Priority . . .
Last year, Sharon Hesterlee, PhD, took the helm as executive vice president, chief research officer, at MDA. With her unique, decades-spanning career — which began, in fact, at MDA — in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and nonprofit sectors, her appointment is certain to advance not only MDA’s mission but also the research and development of genetic . . .
Researchers at Expansion Therapeutics are looking for adults with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) to participate in a phase 1 study. The goal of the study is to evaluate the safety of ERX-963. Researchers hope this therapy may improve symptoms of excessive daytime sleepiness and improve attention and memory. All participants will receive one dose . . .
Researchers at PTC Therapeutics are looking for individuals with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2I (LGMD2I) to participate in a phase 3 study. The goal of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of deflazacort (Emflaza), which researchers hope may reduce inflammation in muscles and potentially lead to improved muscle strength and motor function. Participants will . . .
On Jan. 22, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, announced positive results from the second part of its pivotal phase 2/3 FIREFISH clinical trial assessing risdiplam in infants age 1 to 7 months with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 1. The company announced that the study met its primary endpoint, which was a proportion of infants . . .
In 1950, when the Muscular Dystrophy Association was founded, muscular dystrophy and neuromuscular disease weren’t well known or well understood. But they were, as today, affecting an entire community of kids and adults. And so in 1952, MDA made a move to introduce this community of individuals and families to the world. MDA’s National Ambassador . . .
Australian company Antisense Therapeutics announced encouraging results from its phase 2, open-label clinical trial of the company’s investigational therapy ATL1102 for treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The study met its primary endpoint, which was to assess the safety and tolerability of ATL1102 in patients with DMD who are non-ambulatory (unable to walk independently). After six . . .
AavantiBio, a biotechnology company developing a gene-targeting therapy for Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), was awarded MDA Venture Philanthropy (MVP) funding totaling $1,076,232 to advance AavantiBio’s phase 2 clinical trial of a gene-replacement therapy for the disease. MVP is MDA’s drug development program, which is exclusively focused on funding the discovery and clinical application of treatments and . . .
