On April 28, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval to ravulizumab (Ultomiris) for the treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) in adults who test positive for the anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody. To date, Ultomiris is the third disease modifying drug approved to treat gMG. Ultomiris will be made available in the United . . .
Thanks in large part to the work of MDA advocates across the country, the US House unanimously moved yesterday to pass the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act (HR 2507). Once enacted, this law will reauthorize the national newborn screening program for five years and make additional investment in order to modernize and make improvements . . .
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Zolgensma (onasemnogene abeparvovac-xioi), the first gene therapy for a neuromuscular disease. Zolgensma is a one-time intravenous (into the vein) infusion for the treatment of pediatric patients less than 2 years of age with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) with bi-allelic mutations in the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene, . . .
On Feb. 7, Cambridge, Mass.-based Solid Biosciences announced preliminary results from its phase 1/2 clinical trial, called IGNITE DMD, which is designed to assess the safety and efficacy of its lead drug candidate, SGT-001, in children and adolescents with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). DMD is caused by a mutation in the dystrophin gene on the X . . .
Early identification and treatment for neuromuscular disorders are essential to optimize health outcomes. Newborn screening, which identifies health issues via a blood test taken soon after birth, is essential to ensure that infants born with serious but treatable disorders have the best possible chance at receiving the care and support services they need as early . . .
We were saddened to end 2018 with the passing of one of the true champions of neuromuscular disease research, Dr. Stephen Katz, the long-time director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). Dr. Katz led efforts throughout the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to implement the Muscular Dystrophy Community Assistance . . .
In January 2018, MDA partnered with Edge Research, an established research firm with extensive expertise working with patient advocacy organizations, to conduct an objective and thorough study among the neuromuscular disease community. This survey, a first-of-its-kind for MDA, was called ONEVoice and comprised 50 questions that sought to identify the needs of individuals and families . . .
On Nov. 28, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of Firdapse (amifampridine phosphate) for the treatment of adults with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS). Firdapse, developed by Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, is an oral potassium channel inhibitor designed to prolong signals released from nerves and allow greater stimulation of muscles. This is the eighth . . .
This week, AveXis, a Novartis company, reported that it has submitted a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting approval of AVXS-101 to treat infants with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 1. AveXis is also submitting regulatory applications for the therapy in Europe and Japan. If approved, AVXS-101 would . . .
Today, French pharmaceutical company Pharnext SA announced positive topline results from its pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial (PLEO-CMT) evaluating two doses of PXT3003 compared to placebo during 15 months for the treatment of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A (CMT1A). PLEO-CMT was a pivotal, 15-month, double-blind Phase 3 study that assessed the efficacy and safety of PXT3003 compared . . .
