An expression of the live unlimited spirit, stories and voices of the MDA community
Researchers at Apellis Pharmaceuticals are seeking individuals living with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to participate in a two-year phase 2 trial (MERIDIAN) to determine the efficacy of the investigational drug pegcetacoplan. Pegcetacoplan is designed to reduce the activity of the complement system (a component of the immune system), and potentially slow the progression of ALS. . . .
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine are seeking individuals living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), or a related motor neuron disease to participate in a study/survey to determine if disease progression can be tracked by a smartphone application. The study uses REDCap, a secure website for medical research, to collect information . . .
Researchers at Audentes Therapeutics, an Astellas company, are seeking individuals living with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) to participate in a phase 1/2 study to confirm safety and efficacy of the investigational drug AT845. This gene-replacement therapy may offer the benefit of long-term improvement of motor and respiratory function and quality of life in adults living with . . .
Researchers at Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharmaceutical America (MTPA) are seeking individuals living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to participate in a six-month observational study. This study is designed to identify biomarkers to serve as quantifiable, biological, non-clinical measures of Radicava (edaravone) effects on ALS. Observational measures might include assessment of vitals; blood and urine collection; safety assessments; use . . .
Researchers at Ra Pharmaceuticals (now part of UCB BioSciences) are seeking individuals living with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) to participate in a phase 3 study to confirm safety, tolerability, and efficacy of the investigational drug Zilucoplan. This therapy may improve muscle function by blocking the autoimmune reaction that destroys the junction between nerves and muscles in . . .
On Feb. 25, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to casimersen (Amondys 45) for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in patients amenable to skipping exon 45. It is the fourth exon-skipping, disease-modifying drug to treat DMD, the most common childhood form of muscular dystrophy. The drug is administered by intravenous . . .
Researchers at UCB BioSciences are seeking individuals living with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) to participate in a phase 3 study. The objective of the study is to confirm the clinical efficacy and to assess safety and tolerability of rozanolixizumab. The therapy may help reduce the typical signs and symptoms of gMG, which are caused by autoantibodies . . .
Steve Jobs said, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” And MDA’s new president and CEO, Donald S. Wood, PhD, surely loves what he does. “The mission of this organization has been a lifelong passion for me,” Dr. Wood says. After receiving his doctorate in Physiology from Washington State . . .
The urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the drug-development landscape, driving rapid development, US review, and, in one case, new therapeutic approval. To bring critical drugs to market, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is utilizing a special emergency program announced in April 2020 to accelerate approval of promising coronavirus therapies, an initiative . . .
2021 is a new year: The country has a new administration, and a new Congress has been sworn in. What isn’t new is MDA’s commitment to working tirelessly in Washington, DC, to transform the lives of people living with neuromuscular diseases (NMDs). Here’s a sneak peek at some of the issues we’ll be working on . . .
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