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

GIVI-MPC named FDA orphan drug for treatment of Becker MD

Note: This story was updated Jan. 17, 2025, to clarify the company’s comments on gene therapies, which generally deliver a smaller form of dystrophin. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted IPS Heart’s GIVI-MPC — a stem cell therapy designed to make new muscle tissue in people…

Top 10 MD news stories of 2024

During 2024, Muscular Dystrohy News Today covered the latest scientific studies, advances in treatment, and clinical trials for the multiple types of muscular dystrophy (MD). Here is a list of the top 10 most-read stories we published last year. No. 10 – Patient death prompted pause in DMD…

New technology may inform effective MD gene therapies: Study

A new technology called StitchR effectively restored the production of large muscle proteins dystrophin and dysferlin in mouse models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD), according to a study. The results have potential implications for gene therapies. The technology works by delivering two halves…

Sarepta stops development of exon 51-skipping therapy for DMD

Despite positive trial data, Sarepta Therapeutics has decided to stop the clinical development of SRP-5051 (vesleteplirsen), an exon 51-skipping therapy for some people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). While increases in dystrophin levels seen with the exon-skipping treatment were encouraging, according to the company, concerns over the…

FDA awards LAMA2-CMD therapy MDL-101 orphan drug status

MDL-101, Modalis Therapeutics’ epigenetic editing therapy for LAMA2-related congenital muscular dystrophy (LAMA2-CMD), has been granted orphan drug status by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The designation is intended to encourage the development of therapies for serious or life-threatening rare diseases, which are those affecting fewer than…

Capricor now seeking FDA approval of DMD therapy deramiocel

Capricor Therapeutics has started its rolling submission seeking U.S. approval of deramiocel, a cell therapy candidate to treat cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle, in people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the company announced. Rolling submission means that Capricor will be submitting parts of the process to…

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…