Andrea Lobo,  —

Andrea Lobo is a Science writer at BioNews. She holds a Biology degree and a PhD in Cell Biology/Neurosciences from the University of Coimbra-Portugal, where she studied stroke biology. She was a postdoctoral and senior researcher at the Institute for Research and Innovation in Health in Porto, in drug addiction, studying neuronal plasticity induced by amphetamines. As a research scientist for 19 years, Andrea participated in academic projects in multiple research fields, from stroke, gene regulation, cancer, and rare diseases. She authored multiple research papers in peer-reviewed journals. She shifted towards a career in science writing and communication in 2022.

Articles by Andrea Lobo

Atamyo, Dion Foundation partner to expand LGMD study into US

Atamyo Therapeutics has partnered with the Dion Foundation for Children with Rare Diseases to expand into the U.S. a clinical trial of ATA-200, a potential gene therapy for limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) type 2C/R5 — dubbed LGMD2C/R5. The Phase 1b study (NCT05973630), designed to evaluate the…

FDA gives WVE-N531, exon 53 skipping therapy, supportive status

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given WVE-N531, an investigational therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients amenable to exon 53 skipping, a rare pediatric drug designation. This status aims to incentivize companies developing treatments for serious or life-threatening conditions that primarily affect children and are considered…

Study of LGMD2i therapy BBP-418 exceeds interim analysis enrollment

A Phase 3 trial testing an experimental therapy for limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2i (LGMD2i) has surpassed patient enrollment for a planned interim analysis, the therapy’s developer BridgeBio Pharma has announced. The Phase 3 FORTIFY trial (NCT05775848) is evaluating the long-term safety and efficacy of BBP-418 in…

FDA approves first generic of Emflaza oral suspension for DMD

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first generic version of Emflaza (deflazacort) oral suspension for the treatment of people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Called deflazacort oral suspension, the medication was approved for DMD patients 5 and older, a slightly older population than the…

AMO Pharma to start AMO-02 Phase 3 trial in adult-onset DM1

AMO Pharma has announced it will conduct a Phase 3 trial of AMO-02 (tideglusib), its investigational oral therapy for adult-onset myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). The decision follows a recent meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to review data from the Phase 2/3…

Most people with DM1 develop cardiac problems: Danish study

Most people with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) develop heart problems, according to a Danish study that followed patients for about 10 years. “Life-long cardiac screening is crucial, and we recommended that repeated follow-up is performed,” its researchers wrote in “Natural history of cardiac involvement in myotonic dystrophy type 1 – Emphasis…

2-year EDG-5506 treatment helps preserve motor function in BMD

Oral treatment with EDG-5506, now known as sevasemten, continued to stabilize muscle function after two years in men with Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) taking part in a Phase 1 trial. That’s in contrast to the progressive deterioration of motor function seen during the natural course of BMD in the absence…

Gene therapy SGT-003 wins FDA’s rare pediatric disease designation

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted rare pediatric disease status to SGT-003, a next-generation gene therapy candidate for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) developed by Solid Biosciences. The designation is given to therapies with the potential to prevent or treat rare diseases that primarily affect children and…