Strongly


An expression of the live unlimited spirit, stories and voices of the MDA community

It Is OK to Have Mixed Feelings About Resuming Activities After Being Vaccinated

For more than a year we heard these messages: Wash your hands. Wear a mask. Stay six feet apart.  Now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says people who are fully vaccinated can resume many of the activities they did before the pandemic. The CDC recommends masks indoors in public for everyone in locales where . . .

Read More

Clinical Trial Alert: Phase 1b/2a Study of Descartes-08 in Adults with Generalized Myasthenia Gravis

Researchers at Cartesian Therapeutics are seeking adults living with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) to participate in a phase 1b/2a clinical trial to evaluate safety, tolerability and manufacturing feasibility of the investigational drug Descartes-08 to treat gMG. Descartes-08 is designed to eliminate the aberrant plasma cells that cause gMG, potentially reducing the clinical symptoms of the disease. . . .

Read More

Research Study Alert: Survey for Caregivers of Children with SMA to Study Treatment Decision Making

Researchers at Michigan Medicine at the University of Michigan are seeking caregivers of children living with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) to participate in a survey about treatment decision making. Over the last five years, three treatments have been approved and are changing life expectancy and physical functioning for children with SMA. The goal of this survey . . .

Read More

FDA approves Octapharma’s Octagam® 10% for Treatment of Adults with Dermatomyositis

On July 20, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval to Octagam® 10% for the treatment of adult dermatomyositis, a rare immune-mediated inflammatory disease. Octagam® 10% is the first and only intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) approved for dermatomyositis. Dermatomyositis is an autoimmune condition that involves inflammation of muscles and associated tissues, such as the blood vessels that supply the muscles. The . . .

Read More

Clinical Trial Alert: Phase 3 Study of Pamrevlumab (FG-3019) in Combination with Systemic Corticosteroids in Ambulatory Boys with DMD

Researchers at FibroGen are seeking boys living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) to participate in a phase 3 clinical trial to evaluate efficacy of the investigational drug pamrevlumab (FG-3019) in combination with systemic corticosteroids to treat DMD. Pamrevlumab is designed to decrease fibrosis in the muscles, thereby protecting the heart and lungs. This has the potential . . .

Read More

Clinical Trial Alert: Phase 2 Study of Pitolisant for Treatment of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness in Adults with Myotonic Dystrophy, Type 1 (DM1)

Researchers at Harmony Biosciences are seeking adults living with myotonic dystrophy, type 1 (DM1) to participate in a phase 2 clinical trial and open-label extension to evaluate safety and efficacy of the investigational drug pitolisant (brand name Wakix) to treat excessive daytime sleepiness and other non-muscular symptoms of DM1. Pitolisant treatment increases the amount the chemical . . .

Read More

Clinical Trial Alert: Phase 1b and Open-Label Extension Study of ASP0367 in Boys with DMD

Researchers at Astellas Pharma Inc. are seeking boys living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) to participate in a phase 1b clinical trial and open-label extension to evaluate safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of the investigational drug ASP0367 (MA-0211) to treat DMD. ASP0367 is designed to increase the number and function of the mitochondria in cells, thereby . . .

Read More

Inclusion in STEM: A Discussion with General Motors

According to the National Science Foundation, individuals living with a disability, such as neuromuscular disease, are underrepresented in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Yet STEM-based careers are growing exponentially, and diversity is needed to drive innovation in these fields. As part of MDA’s mission to transform the lives of individuals living with neuromuscular . . .

Read More